The brief:
Create a typography-led integrated graphic design campaign that uses type to celebrate a community of your choice and showcase what makes it unique; explores communities beyond the usual expectations.
Design outcome:
I chose the community of Afro-Russian people - people of African descent or those who are perceived to be dark-skinned compared to other given populations that have migrated to and settled in Russia.
Afro-Russian people living in the former countries of the USSR are still facing racism. Black children who are Russian citizens unfortunately feel oppressed in Russian society. They are ashamed of the color of their skin and are at high risk in society. For biracial or mixed race children in Russia growing up can be a challenge. It often means being singled out at school, discriminated against and sometimes even being attacked by Neo Nazi skinheads.
I have created a set of posters, a typeface and a website (desktop and mobile).
This typeface represents the Soviet side of the community through bold sans-serif letterforms and red colour taken from the Soviet style graphic design period; and the African side of the community through patterns in each letter similar to national African fabrics.
This is a series of six posters that have one statement across all of them: “Confront The Hidden Issue Of The Afro-Russian Community”. The idea of separating this statement across a series of posters enhances the power of this message.
Behind all the letters on each of the 6 posters there is a photograph of an Afro-Russian person. The viewer can find out the story of all of these people on the website, as well as sign the petition against racism towards Afro-Russian people in Russia. The link is provided at the bottom of the poster.
These posters can work as a set of 6 or some of them could also be used as one, for example, the “Confront” or the “Issue”.
This is a desktop website www.hiddenissue.co.uk, where the viewer can find out the stories of Afro-Russian people, learn more about the issue and sign the petition against racism towards Afro-Russian people in Russia.
This is the mobile version of the website.
