Ismaël Rifai

Department: Social Design
Website: www.ismaelrifai.com

Border as Producer of Design

What: The semi-legal trade across the border of Spanish enclave Ceuta in Morocco inspired
Ismaël Rifai to develop a series of objects ‘designed’ by the border.

Why: Every day thousands of Moroccans travel to Ceuta for tax-free items, which they can freely import to Morocco because of a lack of commercial customs in the Tarajal
borders. Crossing the border requires special techniques for packing and carrying the goods.

How: Drawing upon the concept of ‘the border as a producer of design’ this project is based around the different actors involved in this informal ‘factory’. The designs of a table, a chair, a lamp and a blanket embody the changing appearance of an object confronted with the border.

“These border-produced objects reflect the political, historical and economic relationship between Morocco and Spain”