In May 2014, in association with the National Library of Ireland, Wexford Library hosted a World War 1 road show. Families were invited to have personal items connected to WWI catalogued and digitised and to have the digitised items added to the Europeana online archive. It was an opportunity to remember their family members, and to bring their story to the wider world.
Eleven Wexford stories were included in an exhibition entitled “ Portraits of the Invisible” in the National Photographic Archive - National Library of Ireland in partnership with the British Embassy. The exhibition showcased the photographs collected during road shows: images of soldiers and medics, nurses and stretcher bearers, drivers and cyclists, sailors and pilots, are accompanied by the stories their families have treasured for generations.
The eleven portraits were returned to Wexford Library in September 2016 for a standalone exhibition called "Portraits of the Invisible: Wexford Men and Women of World War 1. As part of the marketing, I was asked to design a series of promotional posters, banners and A6 brochure. Although the subject matter has a historical context, I convinced the client early in the process that a contemporary design should be used. Bold swaths of colour and large type are used in contrast with the old portraits, to create a striking visual series.
