Design Observer :: Join the Discussion http://observatory.designobserver.com/feature/the-poster-that-launched-a-movement-or-not/32588/ en-us Design Observer Group 2012-05-11T22:49:27-05:00 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/1.0 As design, the poster was the first step in introducing the idea. The famous pepper spray moments wouldn't have happened if not for the beginning (poster). So you can't underestimate it either. But the following incidents furthered the protest. The complete lineage can be traced to Mohamed Bouazizi's self-immolation in Tunisia.
Either way, this gave me some new ideas of how art and design can further the movement. Think I'm going to go to NYC and get the next phase started.
PEACE I'M OUT]]> http://observatory.designobserver.com/feature/the-poster-that-launched-a-movement-or-not/32588/#comments 2012-05-11T22:49:27-05:00
The diversity of the Occupy movement is represented in the diversity of visuals created by and for the movement, with perhaps the guy fawkes mask becoming so symbolic precisely because of its anonymity. I would also like to point out this collection of posters: http://occuprint.org/Posters/ViewAll , which I suppose validates your point about the inconsistency of the movement's visual language.

However, In Montreal (and Quebec), for almost 3 months, there has been a massive student strike movement taking to the streets. Their protests has been visually stunning, with the adoption of key icons (the red square), colour (red, obviously), but also a slew of creative images and actions that have an amazing visual consitency in extending the "brand" (ugh...). The entire landscape of the city has changed, and red squares, banners, flags, etc. are everywhere. This has been led in part by a group of student designers from UQAM's prestigious design school.

I made a brief post about it here: http://lokidesign.net/2356/2012/04/vers-un-printemps-erable/

Some images from one of the massive demonstrations here: http://lokidesign.net/2356/2012/03/manifestation-etudiante-22-mars/

And an article (in french) here: http://www.lapresse.ca/arts/arts-visuels/201205/05/01-4522334-une-greve-signee-ecole-de-la-montagne-rouge.php

Obviously, there are no typeface guidelines, but there is certainly a cohesive visual voice. Nonetheless, the linking of that relationship to becoming a viable political force, is kind of weak. Just yesterday, student groups emerged out of 22 hours of negotiations with the provincial government.

And on the last point, about having the courage to show up... that's always been the case. But in sustaining that courage, against the assault by the state, and the usury of emotions, art and DESIGN certainly still play an important role...]]> http://observatory.designobserver.com/feature/the-poster-that-launched-a-movement-or-not/32588/#comments 2012-05-06T12:53:17-05:00
Nonetheless ‘Occupy’ could benefit by a more precise gesture of organization and centralization of belief, that is by calibrating their tangible activities and by intentionally ‘branding’ them.

I say this, based on my observations I recently made in Central Park, NYC, in context with the ‘spring awakenings’. To me the ‘Occupy’ movement seemed incredibly loose, using a wide set of semiotic measures (from the above named ‘Guy Fawkes’ masks to peace flags). Finally the notion ‘occupy’ rather suggested melancholia than force in an environment like central park, where (politically lethargic) tourist are diligently shaping consumer sentiment.]]> http://observatory.designobserver.com/feature/the-poster-that-launched-a-movement-or-not/32588/#comments 2012-05-02T11:30:21-05:00
An issue that I encountered at Occupy Sydney related to the question of audience and message. For instance, the slogan 'sacrifice comfort for change' held a lot of appeal to those who were spending nights away from their homes. But to others who had spent most of their lives struggling it was a bit of a joke. As one Aboriginal sovereignty activist said, some people in Australia would just prefer comfort for a change.

Another aspect was the visual politics of the policing. NSW police have an incredibly well resourced media unit that put a lot of thought into how their interactions with OSyd were portrayed in media, largely playing on a deserving/underserving protester mentality. The most violent raid was also conducted in the early hours of a dark Sunday morning, and in a dramatic office building squat eviction they used vehicles to block views of the arrestees and shone torches into the cameras of media. Conversely, the visual tactics of the squatters had been to unfurl large homemade signs with stats comparing homelessness and housing vacancies in Sydney.

The most significant factor for Occupy in terms of visuality and graphics though is the still the bulk of visual labour that sustains the problems Occupy is attempts to address. It is hard to communicate, let alone resist systematic injustice/crises when our (privileged western middleclass) perceptions are totally mediated by sophisticated regimes of distraction. Penetrating this bubble is really hard work. To some extent what is needed are alternative, more desirable images of the future that challenge the 'this is the best world possible, just accept it' way of thinking.
In this vein there are two lines from May '68 that resonate:

The future will only contain what we put into it now.
Those who lack imagination cannot imagine what is lacking.
]]> http://observatory.designobserver.com/feature/the-poster-that-launched-a-movement-or-not/32588/#comments 2012-05-02T02:36:20-05:00
Even in this most urban of stages, any rodeo clown could tell you what comes next... ]]> http://observatory.designobserver.com/feature/the-poster-that-launched-a-movement-or-not/32588/#comments 2012-05-01T08:41:56-05:00



#OccupyWallStreet]]> http://observatory.designobserver.com/feature/the-poster-that-launched-a-movement-or-not/32588/#comments 2012-04-30T22:57:41-05:00
Relevant quote by Glaser in response to the question "do you think graphic design in general possesses the power to sway political opinion?" ...

No. Most graphic design is in the service of business, whose agenda is not the same as service to the community. In most cases, designers are conveying other people’s messages. Every once in a while, there’s a degree of social consciousness among designers, but fundamentally they’re talking to themselves. Often it doesn’t go beyond that, because it’s more about relieving themselves of tension than communicating to people in an effort to change their minds. That’s a failure of design intelligence.]]> http://observatory.designobserver.com/feature/the-poster-that-launched-a-movement-or-not/32588/#comments 2012-04-30T18:39:21-05:00