Context
Commissioned as part of Liverpool hosting the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 on behalf of Ukraine, I was tasked with designing the official Host City Key an object used in the Insignia Handover Ceremony, where the event is passed from one host city to the next.
Unveiled at St George’s Hall to a global audience, the key represents both a moment in time and a permanent addition to Eurovision’s ongoing insignia chain.
Creative Role
Lead Artist & Designer
Concept development for Host City Key
Translation of Liverpool and Ukraine narratives into object form
Collaboration with fabricators and artisans
Oversight of production and final delivery
Execution
The key was designed as a layered cultural artefact, combining symbolic references from both Liverpool and Ukraine within a single unified form.
Each element was carefully considered to carry meaning:
Liver Birds representing Liverpool’s identity
Yellow Submarine referencing the city’s musical heritage
Vinyl record motifs acknowledging Liverpool as a UNESCO City of Music
Anchor forms connecting to Odesa and its port city heritage
Blue and yellow palette reflecting the Ukrainian flag
Rather than functioning as decoration, these elements were integrated into a cohesive visual language—balancing narrative, symbolism, and clarity within the object.
The design was developed through a combination of digital modelling and physical fabrication, working with local artisans over a 40+ hour production process to realise the final piece.
Outcome
Official Host City Key for Eurovision 2023
Used in the Insignia Handover Ceremony
Unveiled to a global broadcast audience
Integrated into Eurovision’s ongoing insignia chain
Now held within the Museum of Liverpool collection
Impact
This is not just a ceremonial object—it is a cultural artefact embedded within Eurovision’s legacy.
Designed to carry meaning across cities and years, the key connects Liverpool’s identity with a wider international narrative of unity, music, and shared experience. Its inclusion in the Eurovision insignia chain ensures the work continues to exist beyond the event itself, forming part of an evolving global history.
