For the 2019 Flow music festival, featuring artist like Tame Impala, Robyn, Tove Lo, Erykah Badu and many more, designers Sanna Ahonen, Sonja Dahlin, Henna Salminen and Jean Munck planned and built a lounge and shop area for Start-up Refugees. This start-up helps refugees in Finland with getting, work, education and starting their own businesses. Their work has helped around 3000 refugees in Finland, since being founded in 2015 by Finnish journalist Riku Rantala.
The design brief concerned the planning and construction of an area that could provide shelter for a juice bar, a barbershop, massage parlor, art shop and lounge area. These areas should communicate the different functions and be easily accessible. The theme for the festival and the stand was recycling, so most of the props and décor was gathered by sifting through secondhand shops and flee markets. Start-up Refugees wanted that the stand would represent accurate middle eastern culture, and this was achieved by closely cooperating with the organization and their members.
