Among different strands, the project will provide a timely 75th anniversary look at the major 1946 Britain Can Make It exhibition at London's V&A Museum, which promoted British design in support of post-war recovery five years before the far better known Festival of Britain. Yet documentation of both events presents as largely silent on the contribution of the people and resources of the British Empire, soon to become the Commonwealth. The project seeks to open new narratives and perspectives on these events and materials.
The university’s Associate Dean for Research and Enterprise Andrew Church said: “We are delighted to work with the National Archives, harnessing the Design Archives’ distinctive position bridging higher education and heritage. The project makes a critical, practice-led contribution to student experience and learning at Brighton, and to the university’s ongoing work to improve equality.”