graphic design / visual communication needs to be used more as a voice of political, social and environmental issues rather than as a way to advertise and make you want to buy shit that you and I don’t need. It’s a shame that not more graphic designers aren’t doing this. What’s the point in selling something that no one needs, why not make people think, make people talk.
The first exhibition/artist/designer I fully engaged with and was interested and excited about was Jonathan Barnbrook. I saw his ‘Friendly Fire’ exhibition at the Design Musuem a few years ago, and this got me so exicited and it moved me and made me think more about what I wanted my work to communicate. His type is inspiring but his commentary and designs on political issues and leaders is what really connected with me. I bought his Barnbrook Bible and everything in there has just inspired me. I can’t find the exact quote but I remember reading that Barnbrook said something like as a graphic designer we have so much power, and therefore we should be using it as a tool to remind me of the issues happening round the world. another quote that gets this idea is
” PART OF THAT CONTROL IS CARRIELD OUT THROUGH THE USE OF GRAPHIC DESING. IT HAS A ROLE TO PLAY IN THE SHAPING AND PERCEPTIONS OF SOCIETIES”
Without a doubt Barnbook changed my thinking, and made me think about using graphic design to inform and help people. I guess that ‘Friendly Fires’ exhibiton changed my life.
However, I still am a slight hypocrite – i ocassionally eat at McDonalds, and did by some Nike Shoes, but his design has really made me think, I am trying to change my lifestyle and I hope that other people do.
A few months ago I got Ctrl Alt Shift magazine. The is issue i bought was the Corruption Issue.It was just incredible. I wish more people , more students were interested and perhaps knew about the facts, the figures and the stark reality of what’s really happening around the world. Maybe we’re all just being naive, or ignorant on purpose. It’s a shame if we are, as designers we have the ability to change people’s perceptions, to inform , to communicate facts and ideas. Rather than selling brands, or selling a lifestyle surely we should be looking to keep on reminding people that there is so much shit happening in this world, and perhaps by donating a little bit of money we can help someone.
some interesting and disturbing facts from Ctrl Alt Shift:
“44 MILLION 5-15 YEAR OLDS WORK AS FORCED LABOURERS THROUGHOUT EAST ASIA (from UNICEF)”
“25 MILLION YOUNG WOMEN IN INDIAN WERE MARRIED IN 2007- SOME AS YOUNG AS 10 YEARS OLD (from UNICEF)”
FORGIVE ME IF I SOUND RUDE BUT WHY THE FUCK DO FOOTBALLERS AND MOVIE STARS EARN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WHEN THIS IS HAPPENING AROUND THE WORLD – —– AND WE ALL KNOW ABOUT IT
When I hear that footballers are being paid over £100,000 a week to kick a ball around, it makes me sick, and they get away with so much due to the various laws that prevent newspapaers writing stories. Why isn’t there a law on how much people, like footballers can earn. We all say let’s ‘make poverty history’ but does anyone actually mean it. Is it just a feel good thing – I mean what the fuck is the point in Live 8 – EVERYONE KNOWS POVERTY EXISTS. Flying artists all around the world is just almost taking the piss.
As a student I know it is hard to live on a certain amount of money, but if we weren’t all attacked by adverts sellling “coolness” and the idea that “your a student, this is what you are supposed to be like” then maybe we would all be more giving and less selfish. Please note that I am in no way saying that I am a perfect human being, I just wish that I and everyone else could be less interested and obsessed with being “cool” and focus on more important issues.
What do I want out of Graphic Design?
To remind people, inform and make people think. Barnbrook made me think and I hope that my work will make people think and respond to the problems people face everyday. I get that life is hard. but if you’re reading this then you probably have a computer, internet, a phone, a home. Some people have nothing. And that needs to change. We spend millions on shit – from watching the xfactor to buying iphone app’s like FatBooth and Doodle Jump. If we really want to make this a better place, let’s all just stop lying to ourselves, and at least be honest that most of us don’t give a shit. Just think how much we could chage someone’s life by donating a small amount of money.
WHAT IF YOU WERE BORN IN A DEVELOPING COUNTRY? IMAGINE HOW DIFFERENT YOUR LIFE WOULD BE.
STOP AND THINK.
[if you've never seen Barnbrook's work, I urge you too. Hopefully it will make you reassess your values like it did with me]
Just found that quote I was looking for
” DESIGN IS BOTH A POLITICAL AND CULTURAL FORCE FOR CHANGE, ALTHOUGH MOST DESIGNERS CHOOSE NOT TO THINK ABOUT THE POWER IT HAS” – Jonathan Barnbrook
