THE PROJECT

We were honoured to be commissioned by Visa to design and create the awards for their incredible Visa Everywhere Pioneers initiative. This project is close to our hearts, as it spotlights the creativity and innovation that displaced women bring to their communities and local economies.

For 2025 and 2026, BEEN was tasked with designing and manufacturing the awards that will celebrate these inspiring journeys. It's a privilege to craft a symbol worthy of such resilience.

OUR APPROACH

Inspired by the journeys of the Visa Everywhere Pioneers, we developed a powerful concept centred on transformation and reinvention.

We used material transformation as a parallel to the personal and professional changes these remarkable women navigated. The final design aims to portray the strength and resilience of these women, yet balanced with a lightness that captures their adaptability and the positive influence they bring.

THE MATERIALS

For this commission, we partnered with Smile Plastics, a UK-based company that turns single-use plastics into 100% recycled content sheets. The materials we chose for Visa were made from discarded yoghurt pots and plastic packaging. (Certifications: ISO 9001, ISO 14001).

THE IMPACT

Both the materials and the manufacturing of the awards took place entirely in the UK, rescuing over 170kg of used plastic. Like us, Smile Plastics are committed to the circular economy, offering a take-back scheme where any end-of-life pieces can be re-worked into new decorative panels. Furthermore, the pieces were cut in a workshop that is part of the Safe Contractors alliance, guaranteeing safe and ethical ways of working.