‘Archive Exposed’ is a display showing the outcomes of a collaboration between the MA programmes in Graphic Design, UX and UI at the University of Creative Arts and the Marx Memorial Library and the Worker’s School.
A display showing the outcomes of a collaboration between the MA programmes in Graphic Design, UX and UI at the University of Creative Arts (UCA) and the Marx Memorial Library and the Worker’s School (MML) will be on show at London Museum Studios from Tue 24th to Thu 26th February 2026.
In this project, students were invited to respond creatively to the challenges and possibilities of working with a cultural institution without a commercial mission.
For many, this meant reorienting design thinking towards non-market outcomes – crafting work that sparks curiosity, supports public learning and imagines design as a tool for social good.
The projects on display are noted for their conceptual clarity, imaginative ambition and sensitivity to the realities of a small heritage organisation operating within financial and spatial constraints.
Together, they propose fresh, functional and future-focused design interventions that support the MML’s mission and invite in new audiences.
About the collaboration
A central challenge in the collaboration lay in presenting the MML not only as the historic ‘home of Marx’ but as the vibrant, multifaceted organisation it is. The Library holds rich archives documenting Britain’s social movements and is a centre for working-class education, creative practice and community engagement.
Students were challenged not only to create compelling visual work but also to devise new forms of engagement that could strengthen the Library’s outreach and visitor experience.
The final projects are noted for their conceptual clarity, imaginative ambition and sensitivity to the realities of a small heritage organisation operating within financial and spatial constraints. Together, they propose fresh, functional and future-focused design interventions that support the MML’s mission and invite in new audiences.
The projects on display are developed within a contextual module of UCA’s MA Graphic Design, User Experience & Interface, and Interaction Design programmes.
The exhibition is open Tue 24th Feb 2-5pm, Wed 25th Feb 5–8pm, and Thu 26th Feb 3.30-5pm. Entry is FREE.
You can arrive at any time during exhibition opening hours, but advance booking is recommended. More info here.
Late-night opening Wed 25 Feb 5–8pm:
We’re thrilled to welcome celebrated designer and activist Greg Bunbury. Known for his “design for good” ethos, Bunbury will lead a conversation on how graphic design can transcend commercialism to serve the public interest.
The evening will bridge the gap between historic activism and modern practice. Join us for an evening of critical dialogue, creative ambition and a first look at the future of the MML’s public identity.
London Museum Studios, Studio Smithfield, 1 East Poultry Avenue, EC1A 9PT.
