The Designs of Activism Throughout History

In The Design of Activism throughout History, we will explore the designs used to promote social reform movements in the United States over the past two centuries. The women’s rights movement, LGBT pride movement, and the racial equality movement all involved the use of designs that aided in spreading their messages. The evolution of these designs in the past can show us where these campaigns of activism can take us into the future.
Some designs, like many propaganda posters, involved text and imagery that clearly laid out the messages and goals of a movement without much interpretation. Other designs, like flags and symbols, used simplistic elements that turned a color scheme into a call for activism. In either case, these are instances where artists and designers are using their skills to expose the struggle of the underprivileged and contribute to the fight towards justice. This is a common goal across the different historical settings and contexts associated with these designs. Though the movements featured in this exhibition all began at different times in history, they must all have a future. We can hope that this future of activism and its designs can be a bright one that extends for as long as inequality exists.

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