Inside FEW Issue 2: a collaborative design approach to celebrating the Finnish Somali diaspora

A conversation starter and a bridge between Finland’s majority population and minority groups, FEW is a magazine that centres on marginalised groups, where a representative of the featured community curates each issue. Through interviews, stories, and visuals, it strives to close gaps between cultures, challenge stereotypes, and foster understanding. Under the direction of guest Editor-in-Chief and human rights activist Ujuni Ahmed, the second issue brings unique perspectives on Somali culture to light, reshaping its portrayal in Finnish media. The design team – consisting of Marina Veziko, Tino Nyman, Tytti Halonen, and Matilda Diletta – collaborated closely with Ahmed, who, during in-depth discussions regarding the culture and history of the Somali diaspora in Finland, identified key themes for the magazine to explore and selected individuals from the community to feature. From its content to its graphic design and art direction, every element of the issue presents a refreshed narrative about the Finnish Somali diaspora since, “in Finland,” Marina Veziko tells us, “minority cultures are often depicted in a stigmatised and stereotypical way.” With the visual workload – project management, layout, art direction, and marketing – split evenly between the four creatives, it was a fully collaborative effort. “For the layout, for example, we divided the articles among the four of us, each taking on three to four articles,” Veziko adds.