PROXIMITY

The Academy of Visual Arts presents Proximity , an exhibition showcasing works from last semester’s Democracy Academy. This initiative was created in response to pressing questions about the role of design in everyday political decision-making processes.

Proximity highlights moments where our encounters with one another have the potential to shift social behaviors. At a time when polarization dominates public discourse, bringing people together through diversity and dialogue feels like a natural and necessary responsibility for designers.

As we move beyond the limitations of consumerism, design must adopt new approaches — ones that heighten our awareness, nurture empathy, and encourage sensitivity toward the urgent issues that weigh on individuals in every waking moment.

The projects on display represent sincere attempts to question the values that hold communities together and to explore new ways of fostering healthy, constructive relationships within groups. Our proximity to one another — and to ourselves — will shape the paths we take, creating opportunities for meaningful, dynamic, and elevated communication.