2022 Winners & Shortlists

Cultural / Context information for the jury

Since 2014, more than 30,000 migrants have died trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe. These estimates are only from documented deaths, wrecks, and bodies found. There have been many more due to the pandemic. Making the Mediterranean “the biggest cemetery in the world”. Targeting migrants is almost impossible, due to their political status, geographical situation and general mood. So a new and surprising way to communicate with people who are incommunicado had to be created, giving migrants a choice to stay in their home countries rather than them having to take the risk of travelling abroad.

Tell the jury about the illustration.

Reflecting ‘old-school’ sardine tin design, the illustration focused on the stories within the cans. People were sometimes portrayed in the shape of the boats or of sardines. The old adage of ‘packed like sardines’ illustrated the journey, which would be experienced by all who traverse the Med. The style, again, reflected the countries of origin and destination – for the stories of previous migrants.