Kajul collaborate on Queen’s Baton design for Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games
The team at Kajul worked alongside local firms Raymont-Osman, MAOKWO and Birmingham Open Media to co-create the Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton.
The Baton was conceived in an innovative collaboration fusing art, technology, and science. Product designers Raymont-Osman worked with engineering specialists at Kajul, both based in rural Warwickshire, and along with Coventry-based MAOKWO, headed up by artist Laura Nyahuhe, each injected their creativity and expertise into the Baton.
To develop the initial prototype the teams at MAOKWO, Raymont-Osman and BOM came together in a series of collaborative workshops to combine art, engineering and technology into the final design which has been fabricated in partnership with Kajul and a collection of West Midlands craftspeople.
The Queen’s Baton for the Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay champions the individuality in humanity. It embodies the idea that no two humans are the same, as every individual has distinctive lived experiences that are threaded together and woven into their tapestry.
On 7 October 2021, at a special event at Buckingham Palace, Her Majesty The Queen will place Her message to the Commonwealth into the Baton, signifying the start of a 294-day Relay through the 72 nations and territories of the Commonwealth.
Karl Hamlin, MD at Kajul, says: ‘It’s been a real pleasure working on the fabrication of the baton from prototype to completion alongside these talented local teams. And what an honour to be unveiling our work at Buckingham Palace, ahead of the Games.’
To find out more about the Queen’s Baton Relay and to register for updates, visit birmingham2022.com/QBR or read the extended article below:
The rare, curved shape of the Baton moves away from the traditional masculine shape seen in previous editions of the Queen’s Baton. Birmingham 2022 making history by being the first major multi-sport event to award more medals to women than men, the strength and fortitude of women across the Commonwealth is celebrated throughout the design of the Baton.
Lining the length of the curved shape and woven throughout the Baton is a platinum strand, paying homage to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, in her Platinum Jubilee year. Not only does the Baton recognise her role as the Queen and Head of the Commonwealth, but as a mother figure.
To represent the medals of gold, silver and bronze that athletes will be competing for, the Baton has been cast using accessible variations of copper, aluminium and brass.
By using metal cast in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, the Baton has used the centuries of local expertise and craftsmanship that give Birmingham its reputation as the city of a thousand trades.
As the Baton travels on its journey and captures stories from communities, the warm copper tones of the Baton will develop and become further enhanced with a mesmerising patina, a blue-green film that forms on the material after exposure. The Baton will react with its environment and evolve in appearance as it is passed from Batonbearer to Batonbearer.
Enhanced with cutting-edge technology, the Baton features LED lighting that displays dynamic performances in reaction to its environment. The lighting will respond to each Batonbearer’s heartbeat when held, demonstrating the passion, human endeavour and athletic endurance it will experience along its journey. The lighting will also highlight the moments of handover between Batonbearers – a true representation of collaboration and the sharing of wisdom between young and old. In a time where human contact has been limited, the Baton addresses how connections matter more than ever.
As well as an illuminated heartbeat, the Baton also has ‘lungs’, consisting of atmospheric sensors with laser technology that analyses the environmental conditions wherever it is in the world. Augmented Reality (AR) will be used to creatively visualise the data captured throughout the journey to invite more awareness of and conversations around air quality across the Commonwealth. The data will contribute to the ongoing research projects being conducted by atmospheric scientist Professor Francis Pope and his team at the University of Birmingham.
Fitted with a 360-degree camera, the Baton also has ‘eyes’, and a ‘brain’ which records and transmits real-time imagery and digital information, allowing stories from Commonwealth communities to be told, as well as GPS technology allowing for the location of the Baton to be tracked on its travels around the Commonwealth.
Etched onto a steel plaque on the top of the Baton is the Birmingham 2022 logo, a distinctive ‘B’ shape designed by visually connecting communities from ten key locations across the West Midlands region, many of which will be hosting sports during the Games. The chamber that sits beneath the plaque will be opened at the Birmingham 2022 opening ceremony to reveal The Queen’s message.
The Commonwealth Games Federation logo is also visible on the Baton, an emblem that reflects the key values of humanity, equality and destiny.
The Baton was conceived in an innovative collaboration fusing art, technology, and science. Product designers Raymont-Osman, engineering specialists Kajul, both based in rural Warwickshire, along with Coventry-based MAOKWO, headed up by artist Laura Nyahuhe, each injected their creativity and expertise into the Baton.
The advanced technology in the Baton is the work of practitioners at Birmingham Open Media (BOM), a centre for art, technology and science. Based in central Birmingham, BOM explores topical issues in digital culture and science which impact on human lives.
Influenced by her Zimbabwean heritage, Laura brings her lived experience to the design of the Baton. Using a multi-medium approach, Laura and a team of young creatives at MAOKWO explored themes of the meaning of the Commonwealth, sustainability, the strength and fortitude of women within Commonwealth communities, which has directly influenced the Baton’s design and concept
To develop the initial prototype the teams at MAOKWO, Raymont-Osman and BOM came together in a series of collaborative workshops to combine art, engineering and technology into the final design which has been fabricated in partnership with Kajul and a collection of West Midlands craftspeople.
The Baton will be integral in capturing the achievements of Batonbearers, the personal journeys of Commonwealth athletes, and the stories from a generation of young people making waves of change in their community.
The Queen’s Baton Relay will connect the Commonwealth. It will tell individual stories through a collective journey. It’s a call to make a difference. It will inspire us all to take on challenges.
Carrying the Baton is a chance to say: “I’m here, I’m ready and I’m taking it on.”
(From left to right) Karen Newman from Birmingham Open Media, Tom Osman from Raymont Osman, Laura Nyahuye from Maokwo, and Karl Hamlin from Kajul.
