The Graphic Imperative by Jordan Key

DESIGNER AS AUTHOR VISC 402 | FALL 2012 PATRICK DOOLEY THE GRAPHIC IMPERATIVE PROCESS WORK JORDAN KEY

Project Assignment ASSIGNMENT The Graphic Imperative | International Posters for Peace, Social Justice, and the Environment, 1965-2005 Spencer Museum of Art, September 5 – November 30, 2009 “The poster is the prime field for experimenting with visual language. It is the scene of changing ideas and aesthetics, of cultural, social, and political events.” -PIERRE BERNARD, FRENCH DESIGNER, GRAPUS Our first project of the semester will be to create advocacy posters in conjunction with the Spencer Museum of Art exhibition – The Graphic Imperative: International Posters for Peace, Social Justice, and the Environment, 1965-2005. The Graphic Imperative is a select retrospective of forty years of international sociopolitical posters. Themes include dissent, liberation, racism, sexism, human rights, civil rights, environmental and health concerns, AIDS, war, literacy, and tolerance, and collectively provide a glimpse into an age of profound change. The 111 posters in this exhibition emphasize the issues of our turbulent times and endeavor to show the social, political, and aesthetic concerns of many cultures and divergent political realities. Our project will entail the design of a pair of advocay postes – one using type and image and the other using type as image. You will be able to pick 1) the issue/message of the poster, 2) the actual advocacy group that would sponsor the message, and 3) the targeted audience that it seeks to address. FOCUS ON FOUR PARTS: 1. Broad issue 2. Organization 3. Problem to be solved 4. Call to action

01. RESEARCH MATERIALS PROJECT ASSIGNMENT

Essay Analysis Why are advocacy posters still around today? ‘Ode to Ink Saturated Paper’ and ‘Why the Poster in the Internet Age’ bring valid points and arguments to the table. Steven Heller and Carol A. Wells take a look at the art form that is advocacy posters and shares their point of view on how they are still alive today. Carol A. Wells focused in on the poster as a teaching and inspirational tool. Looking back over time Wells noticed that political graphics have had a leading role in many revolutions and protests through out history and across the world. Wells poses the question why posters if we have the internet a paperless poster. She made the argument that the internet will never become the complete source for political graphics until everyone has internet access or a computer. There are many way that the internet has improved protests or spread the word for different organizations, but it has not become the only way of getting the word out. Wells believes that posters will continue to be an international way of protesting for something you believe in for quite a while, do to the ‘digital divide’. Steven Heller focuses more on his idea that posters can be weapons. He states that advocacy posters are “designed to inform and illuminate, stimulate and inspire, agitate and attack.” Heller also believes that the message you are trying to convey should be clear and passionate. Something that will stick out in the viewers mind and be remembered. The tactile quality of a printed poster also lends itself well to being placed on visible surfaces and having lasting power. Heller also addresses posters and their online presents. Although it can be a very fast and effective way of getting your political graphics out there, it might not have the same presents. It is easier for people to overlook a poster if it is in a screen. Above all thought Heller sees a poster as the form the serves the function. Looking at the themes that appeared in these essays I really gravitated toward the idea of posters being a way to document history and larger movements of people. I think that the idea that a poster can be a weapon is very valid as long as it is very well designed. I think that there are very passionate people out there that do not truly know how to design and there are designers out there that do not have any passion in anything. I am a believer in clean simple design. I also agree with both Wells and Heller that the internet will never completely take over for posters. I personally like collecting different types of posters. I also can see Wells point that it will never fully take over due to lack of computers in some areas of the world. But I think the one theme that stuck out to me the most comes from Heller, that simplicity will always be more effective. Simplicity and passion together are a deadly combination.

01. RESEARCH MATERIALS PHASE ONE

Poster Analysis

Grapus Peace World Peace The typography and images used in this poster are very raw. Typography is very minimal but is strong and powerful. The rotating pattern of type around the edges of the poster lend to the idea of peace needing to come from all sides. The image depicts the Earth regurgitating weapons as if the world is say that it does not want those items in its system. I think this a very straight forward and effective. This poster does not have a set headline. There are four places to look but they ultimately say the same thing Peace. This single word is a great intro to the image in the center of the poster I think this poster gets across its ideas with very little. The simplicity is fantastic! However, I do think there could have been a better way of representing the headline. Although the differing languages are interesting they are some what confusing especially with them all going in different directions. Parisa Tashakori Create a blue sky for our children Children are the world’s most innocent of creatures. The typography used on this poster is very subtle. There does not seem to be a headline on this poster till you take a closer look. The image speaks so strongly for itself. The idea of knitting sky is quite interesting. Creating something or making something some what permanent. I think that this effectively tells a story and delivers the message, that a blue sky needs to preserved for the children. The simple text at the top of the poster is a part of the design. It does not just sit on top it becomes part of the image. This poster is effective at getting your attention fast. I was really intrigued as to why there was a poster with a scarf on it. I don’t know how effective the headline is. This poster makes sense when you know what it is about but without the small headline I don’t think it would have been as successful.

01. RESEARCH MATERIALS PHASE ONE

Ester Hernandez Sun Maid II Pesticides have contaminated the water supplies in the center of raisinraising territory. The image and coloring and typography are based on the Sun Maid raisin packaging. The skeleton is a theme seen in a lot of Mexican art work. These two combined together is an eye catching and startling take on something that is so recognizable to the viewer. The headline is fantastic. I think this is probably one of the best headlines out of all the posters. It is something so familiar but changed enough to catch the readers attention. The use of typefaces and color to mimic Sun Maid is spot on. I really love this poster and have a hard time figuring out what I might change. I feel like it does its job effectively. I would think about maybe showcasing the pesticide part of the problem more. But they do have that listed at the bottom of the poster as well. Over all I think this might be my favorite poster. Lex Drewinski Hunger The sinister nature of poverty. I almost feel like text is not needed on this poster. I feel like the image can effectively speak for itself. The difference in the two mens bodies stands out and make the difference so noticeable by showing the men in a profiled silhouette. If there had to be text I do agree that ‘Hunger’ should be the headline. It is simple and to the point just like the rest of the poster. The spacing of the headline is odd and dated. The spacing is not really needed. I don’t think that the extra text other than the headline is needed. Otherwise I think it is pretty great! Doug Akagi & Kimberly Powell Save San Francisco Bay Save the Bay The image is awesome! It is printed from a real inked bass. I think the imagery used is very spot on, especially for what they stand for. A fish as imagery for a group that wants to protect waters. They type treatment is okay. It is effect. I feel like the type at the top of the poster is too curly and girly for this cause. I like the handwritten aspect of it but not really the curls. The smaller type treatment is very nice. It does not draw attention to itself but is more informative on what is really going on. The fish works. The smaller text works. The headline text is effect but the typeface is not. I don’t mind the sloppiness of it. I just think it comes off as somewhat girly. Klaus Staeck And New Life Blossoms From the Ruins Conservation of nature in the time of car mania The image delivers one message, the headline is another message and the description given with the poster is another message. I think that they are all on one theme, conservation but they are some what disconnected. What is blooming from the ruins? Like I said before what is blooming from the ruins? I don’t mind the color and placement of the headline but the image and headline somewhat confuse me. Maybe it is the difference in language that creates a disconnect but I don’t quite understand what the ruins are? Although I think the juxtaposition is great and the imagery and interesting to the eye. 01. RESEARCH MATERIALS PHASE ONE

1. Overview of the Organization Surfrider Foundation is all about the protection and enjoyment of beaches. They are beach goers as well. They are engaged in protecting the coastlines. They want the oceans to be there for generations to come. This organizations was founded by three people from Malibu who discovered that their favorite wave, First Point, was about to be destroyed. They worked with Municipalities until they were satisfied that their efforts to preserve that iconic wave would be successful. Their mission is the protection and enjoyment of oceans, waves and beaches through a powerful activist network.