This course was primarily centered on one project in which we created a campaign advocating for a cause we care about: designing branding elements such as a logo, billboards, social media graphics, and posters. The brand I created is a collective called Venus that fundraises for endometriosis research. The condition is grossly underfunded because of codified misogyny within the healthcare system that too often passes off women’s pain. I learned a great deal in this class. I sharpened my problem-solving skills by choosing a cause and focusing inwardly on how design could be used to propel change. I also improved my Illustrator and InDesign skills through constant practice and iteration on my ideas. I decided upon using motifs that are semiotically associated with feminity, at least within a western perspective, such as flowers, pearls, and the Roman Goddess of fertility but subvert them in a manner that felt explosive and unafraid to foster conversations about a scary topic in a way that feels natural through vibrant colors and romanantic typefaces.
To me, advocacy is the practice of uplifting previously unheard voices and driving actionable responses to the issues created when these voices are silenced. When advocacy is left unfounded, creative spaces are compromised by conformity. Advocacy allows for passion and accessibility to seep through design. Without advocacy, our communities and cultures would feel oppressive in structure, allowing only the privileged or the powerful to have control over the attitudes of the many. Advocacy is particularly important in creative spaces because creativity is an expression of humanity. Humanity is diverse and complex, so it must be represented as such. Advocacy is the only way to ensure that our extensions of self represent all selves and all the experiences humanity endures. Often, and especially in our modern day, advocacy is suppressed by idealized prescriptions to an oppressive institution and norm. It is the duty of intellectuals, creatives, and all human beings who want to ensure liberty to be advocates.
To me, advocacy is the practice of uplifting previously unheard voices and driving actionable responses to the issues created when these voices are silenced. When advocacy is left unfounded, creative spaces are compromised by conformity. Advocacy allows for passion and accessibility to seep through design. Without advocacy, our communities and cultures would feel oppressive in structure, allowing only the privileged or the powerful to have control over the attitudes of the many. Advocacy is particularly important in creative spaces because creativity is an expression of humanity. Humanity is diverse and complex, so it must be represented as such. Advocacy is the only way to ensure that our extensions of self represent all selves and all the experiences humanity endures. Often, and especially in our modern day, advocacy is suppressed by idealized prescriptions to an oppressive institution and norm. It is the duty of intellectuals, creatives, and all human beings who want to ensure liberty to be advocates.