Design Observer :: Join the Discussion http://observatory.designobserver.com/feature/why-the-activist-poster-is-here-to-stay/36068/ en-us Design Observer Group 2012-09-28T19:00:46-05:00 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/1.0 http://observatory.designobserver.com/feature/why-the-activist-poster-is-here-to-stay/36068/#comments 2012-09-28T19:00:46-05:00
More recently I've very much enjoyed Rick Black's work. I've made some modest contributions myself, but my favourite sign from Occupy Sydney is still the handwritten message I saw declaring that "I am 99% Human"]]> http://observatory.designobserver.com/feature/why-the-activist-poster-is-here-to-stay/36068/#comments 2012-09-25T21:07:06-05:00
Russ, yes, a lot of professionally produced posters are very image-led and illustrative. It would be good to see the sharp verbal ideas of the amateur poster signs brought into proper poster-making, with a strong and where necessary hierarchical typography to articulate them. For me, the first two posters are among the most satisfying here because they feel so connected to their causes.

Kevin, you make a key point about the posters as encouragement. People who can't see the purpose of protest and advocacy posters miss that. The "other side" reinforces its position with massive amounts of visual and media propaganda. Posters are just another way of keeping an alternative way of thinking in collective view.]]> http://observatory.designobserver.com/feature/why-the-activist-poster-is-here-to-stay/36068/#comments 2012-09-21T03:23:19-05:00 http://observatory.designobserver.com/feature/why-the-activist-poster-is-here-to-stay/36068/#comments 2012-09-18T21:44:30-05:00 http://observatory.designobserver.com/feature/why-the-activist-poster-is-here-to-stay/36068/#comments 2012-09-18T19:12:51-05:00
In response to the oft-asked, "did anything change?", I think it's the wrong question. Aside from the practical purpose of many posters inciting people to attend specific events, rallies and demonstrations, these types of posters also act as a way for marginal voices to be visualised/materialised. The goal is not so much to create direct, quantitative change in policies or what not, but to maintain a strong presence of dissenting voices in our visual landscape (be it virtual or physical, in the streets). They work as acts of solidarity and encouragement for those doing the hard work of social change, and for those that might be opposed to or unaware of the causes espoused, a reminder that we are there (ie. everywhere :P).]]> http://observatory.designobserver.com/feature/why-the-activist-poster-is-here-to-stay/36068/#comments 2012-09-18T19:12:06-05:00 http://observatory.designobserver.com/feature/why-the-activist-poster-is-here-to-stay/36068/#comments 2012-09-17T16:49:31-05:00



Rick: Activist Posters ( AP) at least the great ones, have a sense of humor and in the age of twitter – you’re right — they are here to stay. On Aug 24th 2010, an (AP) went viral when it was posted on the Democratic Underground.
Who designed this simple poster in Pharaoh's Journal? (Pharaoh or Pharoah) Could it be Jay Pharoah (Jared Antonio Farrow) from SNL? You’re the design expert, but at any rate I thought you would enjoy last night’s bit (09/15/2012) on the Season Premiere of ‘SNL.’
]]> http://observatory.designobserver.com/feature/why-the-activist-poster-is-here-to-stay/36068/#comments 2012-09-16T22:55:26-05:00