Final Asylum info graphic

Click to enlarge.

I have added a little more info, making it (hopefully) easier to follow with out explaining it verbally.

Quotes from Selling Olga

I really need to think of something to do with these quotes, I feel it's a good thing to do, as quotes can be really powerful, I just need to find some kind of context to put them in.

Campaign Brief

I have been trying to come up with a name for the campaign that I am doing to encourage people to take a more responsible role as a British citizen.

Here are some Illustrator brain storm. Before this I had made a massive list of 'key words'.



Here are a few of my ideas for names and logos:






I think I am going to go with either Made You Think! or Think UK:






I need to do some research into people's opinions and level of education about the issues I will be discussing before narrowing it down further, I think. I don't really know the best way to go about getting this info with out patronising people.

New maps

Click to enlarge.

This is the new format for the maps. I have just finished the Colonisation Map and have started work on the War Map. After that I will do the Trade Map. Im still not sure what brief they will fit into though.

Quotes from "They get mobiles..."

I decided to use a wall as the imagery in the bottom one, as it kind of seemed like speaker is 'screaming at a wall (its worth noting I had just been listening to Minor Threat).

I have also darkened this sea image as well, so it is a bit more legible.

Where I'm at

Ok, so I have decided that I want to involve more things in my FMP than just asylum seekers, as I feel that this is one issue of a few that are all linked together.

For this reason, I think that I will do one brief to do with asylum seekers - possibly designing a booklet with Sally McGee from the Refugee Council to be distributed in Refugee Week (which I believe is the week before the End of Year Show).

I will also do one brief that is to educate and encourage people to question the way that we treat the rest of the world as a wealthy Western country - this will look at issues like immigration, asylum, war, world-trade/capitalism and colonisation.

Ill write these briefs out over the next few days and post them up here (with the rest of the briefs that I haven't posted yet.)

Guardian Pants

I read this article yesterday, from Saturday's Guardian magazine. Basically they got a load of celebrities to customise their pants, which were then auctioned off to raise money for new underwear for destitute asylum-seekers. Smart.

The Star

I bought the Star yesterday, because it called that Post Office manager who refused to serve people who didn't speak English a 'hero'. While the dream of a more united community is not a bad one, there are better ways of going about it that just refusing to serve people. If he really cared, why didn't he do community work, or help people learn English?





They even gave him a certificate.... bless.




O yeah, they also ran a story, which at the start looks like the Guy that played Cat in Red Dwarf is racist - quoting him saying "I don't trust white guys." When you read the story, however, he says how he feels he has been the victim of racism, and that the police don't trust black guys. The actual quote was, "What would you think if I said I didn't trust white guys?"

They get free mobiles... don't they?

I have just watched this DVD. Its made by a theatre company, and addresses the issues of asylum seekers. Talking about how the exploitation of the Third World by the First World is to blame for the millions of destitute people. While the production budget appears non existent, a few good points are made, and is worth a watch. 

I mean who knew that a certain type of metal that is needed in mobile phones nearly always comes from the DR of Congo, meaning that western companies take steps to keep the country in a state of civil war and poverty so it is easier to exploit it's natural resources?

There was also a few good quotes that I will design and post up here.

Well they're all the same aren't they?

The Sun had a story on it's website today about how some Post Office manager (who is Sri Lankan) is refusing to serve people who didn't speak English. To illustrate the story they showed the British public a photo of what an immigrant looks like.

Why did they need to put that photo in there? All it does is objectify other races, allowing the tabloids to get away with scapegoating them even more.

Go Ricky Gervais

I have just found this video on the PETA website, with the voices of Ricky Gervais and Pink. Smart. I don't think you can go wrong with a Ricky Gervais endorsement.


"Stolen for Fashion"—Learn More at PETA.org.

Be warned, I gruesome film plays afterwards. I couldn't watch it all the way through.

Quotes again

Here is another quote. Its taken from stupid Arthur Kemp's stupid book, The Immigration Invasion, in which, as I understand it, he attempts to justify the European colonisation of America, Australia, etc. by saying that they weren't conquored by foreigners, because before foreigners arrived they weren't known as America or Australia - ie the USA wasn't invaded by Europeans, because before Europeans arrived it wasn't known as the USA. I don't really get it...




I'll probably go for the top one.

Fuck the Border

Okay, so this might be going off on a bit a tangent here, but my last post inspired me to do a post about Propagandhi, as they are a big influence for me. It's partly their fault I'm a stinking vegan hippy.

These are the lyrics to what I believe is a song of defiance aimed at the USA's border vigilantes/racist rednecks, who try to shoot people crossing the USA/Mexico border. Its called Fuck the Border:

A friend of mine dropped me a line, it said,
"man, I gotta run to the USA. I got no money, got no job."
She skipped out of Mexico to stay alive.
You've got a problem with her living here,
but what did you do to help her before she fucking came?
What did the country do?
What did the people do?
I stand not by my country, but by people of the whole fucking world.
No fences, no borders.
Free movement for all.
Fuck the border.
It's about fucking time to treat people with respect.
It's our culture and consumption that makes her life unbearable.
Fuck this country; its angry eyes, its knee-jerk hordes.
Legal or illegal, watch her fucking go.
She'll take what's hers.
Watch her fucking go.
Fuck the border.

Amphibian Q&A

Derek Hogue, or Amphibian, is responsible for designing some awesome covers for my all time favorite band Propagandhi, as well as working with some 'ethical' clients in Canada. Check out amphibian.info.

Artwork for Propagandhi's new album - Supporting Caste (which uses the art of Kent Monkman, on the cover):





Any way, I asked him a bunch of questions and he was sound enough to get back to me with some answers:

How important do you think that design is within the promotion of charities/campaigns/social issues, and do you think that it is often overlooked (by charities, campaigners, etc)?
I think it's very important. The difference between a clear, communicative and remarkable design and an ambiguous, unremarkable design is the difference between attention and dismissal, donations and no donations, etc. On the other hand, I think charities and social campaigns should be wary of spending gobs of money on design, and instead find passionate and interested designers who are willing to work for very cheap or free for the cause.

How different do you think that your studio is from one that isn't as 'ethically' driven, in terms of both the practical running of the studio and the process involved in the actual design?
Well, I'm only a "studio" in as much as a desk in my living room with me sitting at it is a studio, hehe. But when I do work on more commercial projects, I don't think there's anything fundamentally different about how I approach it. No matter the project, if I took it on, it means it deserves my full attention and effort.

Do you find that this kind of design can be more 'restrictive'; for example, because of lack of funding, sensitivity of issues, etc?
Definitely around budget - or when there's *no* budget. As a tiny, one-person shop, it's harder and harder to find tome for pro-bono work for activist groups and the like, so when I do make the time, I am always wishing I had more of a chance to flesh out designs and do better work. A goal of mine is to slowly dedicate more time to to these sorts of projects, and to in effect come full circle to the amount of time i dedicated to these projects when I first started out.

Do you think that designers, in general, have any particular social responsibilities? Do you think that they should be held more accountable than the rest of the public?
More accountable? No. But at least equally accountable. I think every individual must be held accountable for the effects of the work they do. Doing excellent creative work for Exxon makes you, as a designer, partially responsible for the effects of that work. I don't believe in "apolitical" work ... it simply doesn't exist.

In a capitalist society, most conventional products are sold to us as commodities with personalities and human qualities, as opposed to 'things' with 'functions' As a lot of the today's 'problems' are the result of Western capitalism/consumerism, do you think that it could be considered unethical/unproductive to promote social issues in the same 'reified' way (as opposed to using facts, figures, logical argument), as it could serve to promote and enforce a consumerist mindset?
I'm not entirely sure we're in any position to use such abstractionist thinking at the moment, given the state of the planet. Right now my opinion is that whatever it takes to fix this shit we're in, let's do it. Certainly not unethical or counterproductive. Perhaps short-sighted. I'm trying to think of an example of this in a social/activist context, but can't so much. Er, next question!

Are there any social issues that you feel are more urgent/important than others, eg. environmental issues / human rights / animal rights / working within the local community / etc?
Well, I personally feel strongly that the state of the planet and the wholesale slaughter of its non-human inhabitants is of extreme urgency. But I also think that humanity needs to tackle it all, and that individuals should direct their energies towards the issues that touch them and motivate them the most - or indeed are of immediate consequence to them - as that will lead to the most work getting done.

Do you find it more personally satisfying working with your clients, that you would working with more commercial clients? Why did you decide to set up Amphibian?
Definitely. The few projects I've done of a more commercial nature have generally bored me and been tedious and unfulfilling. Amphibian just kinda grew organically from my interest in design, and then programming, and my eagerness to help people who I thought were doing good work, or who inspired me.

What is Amphibian's rationale/goals/intentions?
To do good work for good people, and eke out a living doing it.

Quotes

I have been 'designing' some quotes today.

The first was, I believe, said by a native American about the Europeans goals in the 17th Century. The second is what a police spokes person said after a trial that failed to prosocute 3 police officers for racist behaviour towards Notinghams Jamaican community in the 60s.

Infographic showing how few asylum seekers Britain hosts

This took me quite a while to put together. But I'm really pleased with the visual outcome, however it is still a little complicated to understand. hopefully I'll figure out how to make it more undrstandable.

It's a pity infographics are so 2008, isn't it?

Click to enlarge:

Salvedge

Me and Emma have ben working on a brand identity for Salvedge, which is a sustainability consultants. Here is our 'design directions PDF'. The first (purple) idea is mine and the others are Emma's.

The Sanctuary Final?

This is possibly/hopefully the final design for The Sanctuary Blog. I done did some more potato stamping.



Here's the stamps I made for the various links:

Advocate Q&A

I emailed Mark Epton, aka Advocate asking a few questions about
'ethical' design. He was kind enough to email me back some answers
really quickly.Check out his website.

Here is some design he did for New Internationalist.



How important do you think that design is within the
promotion of charities/campaigns/social issues, and
do you think that it is often overlooked (by charities,
campaigners, etc)?  
It is overlooked and is viewed with suspicion

How different do you think that your studio is from one
that isn't ethically driven, in terms of both the practical
running of the studio and the process involved in the
actual design?  
Not much difference. Everyone recycles and tries to save
energy etc.

Do you find that this kind of design can be more
'restrictive'; for example, because of lack of funding,
sensitivity of issues, etc?  
Lack of funds is a big problem. To make a living on
small budgets everything has to be done quickly.

Do you think that designers, in general, have any
particular social responsibilities? Do you think that
they should be held more accountable than the rest of
the public?
Not really. I think it is a load of bullshit that
designers have special powers and responsibilities to
change the world. Everyone has to become the change we
want to see.

In a capitalist society, most conventional products are
sold to us as commodities with personalities and human
qualities, as opposed to 'things' with 'functions'  As a
lot of the today's 'problems' are the result of Western
capitalism/consumerism, do you think that it could be
considered unethical/unproductive to promote social
issues in the same 'reified' way (as opposed to using
facts, figures, logical argument), as it could serve to
promote and enforce a consumerist mindset?
This is the best question I've ever been asked by a
student. A good point. I don't know... It can be argued
that 'branding'is such a powerful tool that ethical
organisations should use it (rather than be suspicious).
Branding is a tool, neither evil or good. Need to think
some more on this.

Are there any social issues that you feel are more
urgent/important than others, eg. environmental issues /
human rights / animal rights / working within the local
community / etc?
CLIMATE CHANGE. We're all fucked if we can not curb carbon
within about five years. And I reckon there is a fat chance
of that happening. I'm leaning how to grow vegetables! And
I'd quite like a gun (which is depressing).

Do you find it more personally satisfying working with
your clients, that you would working with more
commercial clients?
Morally yes. But often 'ethical' organisations don't know the
first thing about design/communications/branding/marketing,
don't respect what I can do for them and don't have budgets
- this can be frustrating.

Books

I have just bought some new books.

Firstly, The Immigration Invasion by Arthur Kemp. Recommended to me by the BNP website. I have only read the first couple of chapters, but it is clear that, while Kemp makes every effort towards intelligent argument that does not rely on racism, he is a complete idiot. His argument is poorly considered and extremely flawed (it is obvious too that publishing companies thought so too, as it appears to be cheaply self published).

C'mon BNP, you can do better than this!

I have also bought three (more intelligent) books:

I'll let you know how I get on. Watch this space.