CARITAS – CLICKING AWAY WON'T HELP

Austria's largest aid organisation, Caritas, advocates for people in need every single day. Fighting for a society in which no one is left behind, the organisation combines hands-on support with socio-political commitment. Through its work, Caritas not only offers assistance, but also raises awareness of structural injustice. How does one make digital ignorance visible? The project ‘Wegklicken hilft nicht,’ uses the mechanisms of the internet to turn against itself so as to draw attention to the mass deaths of refugees in the Mediterranean Sea. One’s own user experience becomes a form of resistance here: rather than designing banners that can be clicked away, the actual act of clicking on something becomes the problem. The campaign deliberately causes disruption and its effect is reinforced with powerful imagery. It’s core message, “Let's stop mass deaths in the Mediterranean!” is depicted by countless hands reaching out of the water with open palms – symbolising both people drowning and the universal 'stop' sign. This simple yet powerful visualisation is shocking and breaks barriers. It actively calls for action to be taken.