03 | Typography
ISTD - International Society of Typographic Designers
Project Brief
The project involved selecting and completing one of the five student briefs published by ISTD as part of the ISTD 2023 Student Assessment Scheme. Any acceptable deliverable could be used for the final execution, but it had to put a significant emphasis on concept development, research, and the professional incorporation of typography into design. Every design also has to contain a strategy and specifications document with precise design guidelines for the final product. I chose brief four, The Body Politic.
Brief four went as follows:
Capture a specific political landscape at this point in history, making it accessible to those voting for the first time. Spend time researching the political landscape of either; your home nation, a specific country of interest, or an internationally relevant organisation. Whilst you may have a personal view on the current state of affairs, develop a focused and neutrally positioned typographic tour-de-force that makes accessible the place of politics for a 21st century voting audience.
Project Deliverables
04 Supporting imagery or media
Design Strategy
The Ukraine conflict emphasises the issue of displacement, but the global refugee and asylum-seeker crisis needs immediate attention.
South Africa is home to around 250, 250 asylum seekers and refugees, mostly from countries such as Zimbabwe, Somalia, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. However, the country’s asylum processing system is seemingly dysfunction due to policy, legal infrastructure, and administrative malfunctions and system discrepancies resulting in a current backlog of over 153,000 unresolved case applications. To address this issue, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has designated improving the communication of the asylum system as a crucial priority that needs to be addressed by South African political parties in the upcoming national government elections in 2025, specifically targeting first-time voters.
South Africa has a troubling history of racism and more recently xenophobia, which poses significant threats to the country’s refugees and asylum seekers. UN experts have voiced grave concern about allegations of growing violence against foreign nationals in South Africa, and they have urged for accountability in combating xenophobia, racism, and hate speech, which harm migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and even residents deemed as ‘foreign’ – clearly an act of othering. Discrimination against individuals born in foreign countries has unfortunately become deeply ingrained in not only official policies but also in the broader fabric of society. This troubling trend has led to significant violations of fundamental human rights. Addressing these systemic concerns is critical to ensuring the safety and well-being of all people living inside South Africa’s borders, regardless of nationality.
This project aims to address the prevalent discrimination against individuals born in foreign countries, a problem deeply rooted in both official policies and wider society. To achieve this, a targeted social media campaign will be launched, focusing on university students aged 18-24, a demographic representing 13.5% of South Africa’s social media users. By sharing information about refugee and asylum seeker abuse, the campaign aims to raise awareness, foster empathy, and encourage action. Its overarching goal is to drive real-world support and contribute to solving this pressing issue through impactful content.
To produce a coordinated impact, this strategy uses waiting tickets, educational Instagram posts, and a campus mural. Waiting tickets at campus turnstiles increase students’ interest, leading them to instructional Instagram posts. These posts address refugee and asylum seeker mistreatment explicitly, encouraging empathy. The artwork on campus serves as a visual focal point, emphasising the message and boosting social media sharing. Together, these parts establish a unified narrative that leads students from curiosity to comprehension and, finally, to participation with the campaign’s cause.
Research and Development
As I continued my research, I decided to concentrate on the refugee problem in the context of my own home nation, South Africa. Shifting my focus from the global to the local, I was curious to see how this crisis emerges in a place near and dear to my heart, and what unique dynamics emerge.
I uncovered the abuse of refugees and asylum seekers within the processing system in South Africa. One factor that stood out is the issue of xenophobia, which has long plagued South Africa and has often been expressed through violence and discrimination against foreign nationals.
Specifications
The act of turning letters around conveys the idea of turning a situation or perspective around. In the context of the campaign, it represents the need to right the wrongs done to refugees and asylum seekers. It entails a movement in attitudes, policies, and actions in order to effect good change.
Placing the “x” within the “R” graphically represents the act of voting by marking a ballot with a “x.” This element of design establishes an immediate and recognisable link to the concept of voting, encouraging viewers to understand the campaign as a call for active engagement and participation in pushing for change.
Final Outcomes
