Matthew Christopher Williams Gutierrez

  • Graduation work
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  • Design (full-time)

Graphic & Interaction Design

Without a Door to Close: Testimonies from the Heart

Matthew Williams' thesis project, Without a Door to Close: Testimonies from the Heart, addresses the severe public health crisis of homelessness and social exclusion in Groningen, where an estimated 1,250 people are currently unhoused. Inspired by a year of volunteer work, Williams pivoted from an initial cookbook concept to create a deeply intentional testimonial book that amplifies the voices of the marginalized. The physical book uses a tough brown leather cover to mirror the harsh realities and resilience required to survive on the streets , while utilizing the actual handwriting of unhoused individuals to restore their agency and identity as active co-authors. The project challenges societal prejudice and asks the public to see the unhoused as fully human and dignified. Ultimately, it represents a shift in social design from creating for a community to creating with them, ensuring their voices are heard with the respect they inherently possess.

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Programmes

  • Design (full-time)