UATLAS. War migration record
2022
Website is a digital record of wartime migration — a collection of stories from people who, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, crossed the border, were internally displaced, or chose to return or continue their journey elsewhere. The project brings together photographs and personal testimonies with the broader context of wartime migration, creating a record of the contemporary experience of war from the perspective of those directly affected by it.
Rafał Milach
Magnum Foundation
2022
Filip Tofil
Urszula Tofil
Rafał Milach (curator)
Bartek Urbańczyk (developement)
We focused on creating a digital archive that brings together personal stories, documentary material, and the collective experience of migration. Based on interviews from the Polish–Ukrainian border, Lviv, and Warsaw, the website gives different voices and materials equal space. Instead of following the conventions of a photographic exhibition, we created a flexible structure for text, images, and information. A restrained visual language, shaped by typography, rhythm, and subtle Ukrainian colours, gives the project a distinct identity while keeping the focus on the stories.
The main challenge was finding the right form for material with significant emotional and documentary weight. We wanted to avoid both the conventions of a traditional photographic exhibition and adding another narrative layer to already complex stories. The website was designed as a framework, not another voice—organising and guiding the viewer while preserving the immediacy of the material. The design combines documentary restraint with a distinctive visual identity, supporting the stories without overshadowing them.
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