El IED Barcelona colabora con Open Arms United with Yachting (OAUY) para sensibilizar a la industria de yates de lujo sobre el salvamento de vidas en el mar

Date

28 September 2023

The pieces contribute to bringing together two realities as different as the rescue of migrants and the superyacht industry

A group of IED Barcelona students from different disciplines have participated over several months in the campaign “The sea is one and so are we” by Open Arms United with Yachting (OAUY). This is an initiative of the sea rescue NGO, in collaboration with the Barcelona-based nautical design studio Schwalgien Design and Waterproof Consulting, aiming to raise awareness in the luxury yacht sector about the humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean to initiate collaborations, donations and crew training in the nautical industry.

In the sea there are no second chances; reacting in time and appropriately can make the difference between living or dying. Therefore, it is very important that the crews of luxury boats know how to act when they encounter a migrant boat.

With this purpose, IED Barcelona students have designed pieces that contribute to bringing together two realities as different as the rescue of migrants and the superyacht industry, without falling into clichés and highlighting the need to be supportive also in the Mediterranean.

During the design process, the students visited the Open Arms boat in the Port of Barcelona, where they were able to see first-hand how this NGO works. Then, they developed various proposals from which were selected two finalist works that can be seen at the Monaco Yacht Show (MYS), the most famous show dedicated to luxury superyachts, until 30 September. The result of the proposals was unveiled at an exclusive event that took place on the yacht show opening day.

 

GET TO KNOW THE PROJECTS

“The sea is one and so are we” proposes a powerful fictitious visual image that combines a message with virtual reality that leads to a proposal that symbolizes the sea not only as a territory for yachts and luxury boats, but also as a way for refugees to find new hope for a better life.

Original idea by:

Federico Jelmini (Product Design); Patricio Montoya Angulo (Transportation Design); Tedi Ivanova (Graphic Design); Yash Mehra (Transportation Design) and Astanbek Zhyldyzbekov (Transportation Design).

Project developed by:

Patricio Montoya Angulo, Yash Mehra and Astanbek Zhyldyzbekov.

 

“Life jacket warm embrace” proposes looking at life jackets as objects of inestimable value. A collective of street art artists from Barcelona has been asked to intervene on the vests with graphic works, which transform them into pieces of art.

The vests represent rescue from dangerous waters and thermal blankets, comfort and warmth: the hug that people receive from Open Arms.

Original idea by:

Cheyenne Maryjoan Berry Guillén (Product Design); Mike Benzarti (Product Design); Yasmin Barry-Djemal (Graphic Design) and Fabienne Bjercke (Graphic Design).

Project developed by:

Cheyenne Maryjoan Berry Guillén

 

Tutor: Giulia Sonetti

Coordination: Ulises Gotera and Raffaella Perrone

 

Discover all the design weeks that we take part in here.

You may be interested in:

A futuristic car in black and white colours

05 December 2025

Design excellence nurtured at IED Barcelona triumphs at Cairo Design Award 2025

Youssef ElBarbary, a Transportation Design alumnus, wins the award in the Automotive/Industrial Design category with his final degree project “Polestar Negative + Elemental”.

01 December 2025

AQU Catalunya and IED Barcelona begin a mass survey to gauge the satisfaction of recent graduates

More than 60,000 people who finished their university and artistic studies last year will receive the survey, which will serve to improve the degrees currently being taught. Participants will be entered into a prize draw for the latest generation iPhone.

25 November 2025

IED Barcelona pays tribute to Cine Comedia ahead of its conversion into the Museu Carmen Thyssen Barcelona

Visual Arts students artistically transform the iconic venue’s seats in a symbolic action that brings together emerging creativity and cultural heritage.

24 November 2025

Rodrigo Triana, Special Mention in Young Design at the 2025 Catalonia Ecodesign Award

The Product Design alumnus from IED Barcelona was also selected to present his winning project, “Tonah” —a parasol with an integrated natural cooling system— at ADI Making of… event.

21 November 2025

IED Barcelona designs the NFT for the GrausTIC Awards once again

Carlos Solines, a student of Motion Graphics and Video, is the author of the virtual trophy for these awards recognising innovative uses of information and communication technologies in Catalonia.

17 November 2025

IED Barcelona makes the invisible tangible at Mira Digital Arts Festival 2025

The installation “Torbellino”, designed by students from the Master in Design for Interaction and Extended Realities at IED Barcelona, offered an interactive visual spectacle at the digital art and culture festival.

14 November 2025

This was IED MUSES Talks: Quayola

In the first episode of the second season of the inspirational talk series by IED, the renowned multimedia artist revealed the key elements of his work at the intersection of art, design, and technology.

06 November 2025

Two alumni from IED Barcelona design the award for the 18th ‘Premi Dona i Esport’

Mina Barchi and Stella Ferrazo, graduates in Product Design, have created a sculpture through which the Barcelona City Council recognises this year the transformative power of women in sports.

A bottle of craft beer next to dried artichoke waste

04 November 2025

‘Santa Carxofa’, awarded at NEXT GEN DESIGN 2025! “Redesign tomorrow, today”

The project by Justine Vargas, alumnus of the Master in Sustainable Design at IED Barcelona, is one of the winners of this competition that promotes innovative solutions aligned with the European Green Deal.