80 YEARS OF FREEDOM

PROBLEM
In 2024 and 2025, we celebrate that World War II ended 80 years ago. We commemorate the liberation of the Netherlands, thanks to Allied soldiers and the Dutch resistance, and we remember the victims who fell during that time. The National Committee for the 4th and 5th of May asked KesselsKramer: How can we engage a broader and younger audience with a historical event that happened 80 years ago?












SOLUTION
Sometimes, freedom seems like it is only the responsibility of the government or the military, and it feels as if taking action yourself is difficult or distant. In reality, however, many people in the Netherlands still work hard to protect it. Freedom continues to be actively passed on. It is something everyone can contribute to in many ways. This is highlighted in a democratic design toolkit for all the stakeholders and a campaign to inspire people to take action, big or small, for our freedom.

IDENTITY
In our identity for 80 years of freedom (80 jaar vrijheid) we celebrate our differences, while also showing that freedom is something we have in common. It's our shared responsibility to keep it going and pass it on from generation to generation.


The identity is based on overlapping geometric shapes. The shapes create the figure 80 and can be reshuffled to create different illustrations and visualisations.

CAMPAIGN
Together with photographer Robin de Puy and cinematographer Maarten van Rossem, video and still portraits are made of people like Layla, Miel, and Mehrzad, who contribute in different ways to make our freedom possible. The imagery is accompanied with the message: ‘80 years of freedom is made possible by …’ along with the question: What do you do for freedom?


The website vrijheid.nl provides more information on how and where you can commemorate and celebrate, and what activities will take place throughout the year.