UNBROKEN workshop at Ukrainian Design Week turns rehabilitation into design

The sixth Ukrainian Design and Innovation Week (UDIW), taking place in Kyiv and online from May 4 to 10, embraced the theme AMBIENCE and collaborated with the National Rehabilitation Center UNBROKEN. Rather than showcasing a collection for a fair, this partnership presented everyday items—such as tableware, interior decor, and ceramic accessories—crafted by both civilian and military patients at Mystetskyi Arsenal as part of their neuropsychological recovery. UNBROKEN serves as a comprehensive center providing prosthetics, physiotherapy, and psychological support, with its UNBROKEN Art program incorporating ceramics, weaving, and painting into therapeutic practices. While Marta Batura and veteran Kostyantyn Tsyrkot offer technical assistance, the patients retain authorship. The project addresses the altered physical needs post-injury, emphasizing design as a means of recovery. A public program featured art therapist Iryna Holubetska on May 10 and a discussion on creative practices in neuropsychological healing on May 9. Aiming to raise 200,000 UAH through donations and ceramic sales, the initiative shifts focus from infrastructure to the intimate aspects of daily life—home, table, and objects—crucial for restoring livability.