Eagles, Medals, Ballot Boxes. Redesigning Democratic Representation

Design and architecture have always helped make societal ideas visible and open to discussion. However, rather than—as has often been the case historically—relying on grand, monumental gestures or, conversely, limiting itself to small niche projects, the research and design project “Re-De-Re” pursues a third, more understated approach: a design-based exploration of individual, very concrete objects of our democratic representation.

Three of these are at the center of the exhibition. The ballot box, which in many municipalities remains to this day a plain, repurposed trash can—practical, but hardly befitting the solemnity of the act of voting. The Federal Eagle, whose symbolic significance as a bird of prey dates back to a time long before democracy. And the Federal Cross of Merit, with which the state honors civic engagement, but whose form is strongly influenced by Christian symbolism and, above all, by military tradition. Building on these three examples, designers have developed new concepts that are more contemporary and open-minded.