The Two Common Contradictory Misconceptions About Graphic Design

1. It looks so simple. Must be easy to do.
2. You, the designer, have all the time in the world to perfectly work and revise, work and revise, and the design only goes out into the world after you've had plenty of time to make sure it is the best thing anyone has ever seen. 

When in truth, it’s really difficult to design something that is simple, clear, and beautiful. And in the flow of the day, with multiple projects, juggling many things, you don’t have the time to mess with something until you feel it is the best thing anyone has ever seen. I don’t think perfection is something you should go for. It’s just not possible. 

Day by day, you work and you release, and you repeat. If something becomes great, it’s because of a summation of factors, many of which you have no control over. Best to just do what you do and let the chips fall where they may.

All Power To The People

Graphic design is a tool for moving people to action. When design is utilized to further the cause of social justice, to promote equity and opportunity, amazing things can happen. The type of design I’m most interested in and see the most promise with promotes diversity and inclusion, brings people together to solve problems, and advocates for a progressive culture of creativity and overall well-being for individuals and communities.

Reflecting on UNL’s Design + Social Justice Symposium, I feel so honored to have been a part of an educational institution celebrating the graphic design of a justice movement and having a discussion about how design can have an impact today, whether social, political, or environmental. Meeting Emory Douglas is certainly something I’ll never forget. I asked for his signature right next to the masthead of a Black Panther paper. He also wrote, “All Power To The People.” Something to always be mindful of. In the face of inequality, injustice, and hate, All Power To The People brings us together, breaks through the madness, and allows us to find ways to address our most urgent issues. 

Graphic design can make you smile. Make you mad. Make you change your behavior. It illuminates and can silence all irrelevant noise with magnificent clarity by perfectly capturing the core of an idea. It’s an obvious tool for social change as seen in the history of successful movements for justice. And it will continue to be so. 

The Limits

What are the limits on or challenges to graphic design as a vehicle for social change?

First, design on its own can only go so far. Without the organizations and activists working tirelessly to make change happen, a piece of graphic design, however loud it shouts, is over and done with rather quickly. In the fight for social justice, how long you shout, in strategic intervals of intensity, matters most. If the people on the ground aren’t there, change doesn’t happen.

Second, I worry about design for social justice being drown out by the thousands upon thousands of messages created every day for big brands with big budgets. Brands that most often push their consumer-focused answers to invented problems in their hyper-commodified version of the world on the airwaves and Internet streams they seek to dominate.

Additionally, when brands do raise awareness for important issues dealing with community, humanity, love, and the planet, their product-focused solutions remain problematic. If people take a consumer-centric view of these problems, that these very real problems are solved by buying specific products, there’s a false sense created that our challenges can be addressed without actively participating in the creation of meaningful solutions that are more difficult, less instantaneous, and are not as easy to see.

The Relationship

What exactly is the relationship between design and social change?

Designers who take on issues of social justice I think work in three ways. 1) There’s the solo designer using design to express his or her views. This can be done by participating in online poster sites for a cause, in design exhibitions, or by simply posting up designs on the streets of a neighborhood. 2) On a project by project basis, a designer works with organizations and activists using his or her skills to create design work used by the people working on the issues day in, day out. Either paid or pro bono. 3) The designer is part of the movement. With a stake in the fight, he or she is an integral part of an organization where different tools are used to move people to action. Design work is done alongside community organizers, strategists, fundraisers, activists on the ground, and so on.

When In It

In the creative moment, the groove. When you are trying like hell to make it happen. Bombardment, debris flying everywhere. Trying to get it all done... Rhythm, rhythm, move, shake. Nuthin’ but a G thang. Random cultural sounds, visuals, twists get thrown in and spun about. Pick it up, throw it down. How do you see it? How does it make you feel? How can it be new again? Where is the why? Why, always why? And then, when does it come together?

Friendships

Lost in the turbulent sea that is this crazy life, I'm counting myself insanely lucky to be surrounded by the bonds of such strong friendships. Cosmic level friendships. Some decades old, others just beginning. From just down the street to the edges of beautiful America. Bonds formed by the roots of place and the desire to make something new and exciting. By comedy, tragedy, and a forever swirling contemplation to try to make sense of all of this everything. How do we live, who do we love, what do we make, and why do we do any of it. Whatever it is, I think we've settled into a rhythm of quiet little voices followed by loud thunderous shouts from rooftops. Trial and error, trial and create. Then we get together for the raising of a glass. To our lives, to our hopes, to the what next, to who we live for. Cheers!

How I spent my summer vacation

Wearing flip-flops on a regular basis. Getting way into tri-blend T-shirts. Being so bummed on True Detective but pretty stoked on Ballers. Listening to a lot of Modest Mouse, Atmosphere, and Purity Ring. Loving a wide selection of IPAs and sipping on some fine Tequila. Biking in most days to do some awesome coworking. Following Presidential ambitions from a safe distance. Prepping for a social justice poster exhibition. Prepping for an unconference presentation. Organizing a social justice poster show. Saying goodbye to Jon Stewart. Celebrating all sorts of stuff with my wife. Working on lots of brands. Lots of websites. Lots of campaigns. Kicking it with lots of fine folks over drinks. A little bit of swimming in a lake in Minnesota. Quite a few dog walks around the neighborhood. And just enjoying these long, humid days of summa-summa-summa- time.