Refuge at Outernet London: No Red Flag is Too Small

Refuge is unveiling a powerful new campaign for International Women’s Day (IWD), aimed at exposing the hidden dangers women face in abusive relationships.

The huge installation – created by London-based agency AMV BBDO in partnership with Pixel Artworks – will be hosted in Outernet London’s flagship digital exhibition space, The Now Building in Charing Cross Road, from 10am-8pm on Saturday 8 March, and is completely free.

Featuring up to 100 physical red flags, each displaying a quote from a domestic abuse survivor, it will show that many forms of domestic abuse go unrecognised, unseen, unreported, and untold.

The striking visuals will be accompanied by a dynamic soundscape featuring the voices of well-known actors and TV personalities including Olivia Colman, who won an Emmy and Golden Globe for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown; Bella Ramsay, celebrated for her role in The Last of Us; and Adjoa Andoh, known for playing Lady Danbury in the Netflix series Bridgerton. Their powerful renditions of survivors’ words will bring the campaign to life in a truly immersive experience.

Refuge ambassador Olivia Colman said:
Abuse doesn’t always look the way we expect it to. It’s in the small moments, the quiet control, and the silent manipulations. No red flag is too small to be noticed, because every woman deserves to live without fear.

The Red Flags installation is part of a month-long awareness campaign during which survivor experiences and content helping people better understand the toxic behaviours that can signal abuse will be shared across social media by Refuge and its ambassadors. Actor and poet Caitlin O’Ryan has also written a poem for the campaign, entitled Why Did You Stay? which she will perform live on the day.

Abigail Ampofo, Interim Chief Executive of Refuge, said:
Domestic abuse often operates in the shadows, manifesting in subtle, insidious ways that are hard to recognise. As technology and cultural norms evolve, abuse becomes more difficult to spot. This campaign seeks to expose these hidden forms, using the voices of survivors to make the red flags impossible to ignore. We want women to know they are not alone, and Refuge is here to support them.

Jessica Dracup-Holland, CMO at Outernet, said:
We are incredibly proud to be partnering with Refuge for its ‘red flags’ campaign which uses our incredible immersive space to shine a light on the hidden signs of domestic abuse and amplify the voices of survivors. This partnership not only engages and educates, but also encourages action, ensuring no red flag is ignored.