Social Responsibility In Graphic Design

Social Responsibility In Graphic Design


This design is based on a stencil graffiti, featuring the words Fight Racism! framing a close-up of a young person speaking. The color scheme is red, black, and green.

Recently, I decided to do a design for my 400 Planets store featuring a graffiti image that carried the message “Fight Racism.” I had been delaying this design for a couple of years, not knowing the right way to approach it. I finally decided to add the a red, black, and green gradient to it—the colors of the Black Liberation Flag.

Apolitical and Inoffensive

Most of the time I opt for apolitical images, something interesting, maybe even edgy, but not offensive. But for the Graffiti section of 400 Planets, it’s pretty easy to drift into social commentary or political activism. As anyone who has closely observed graffiti or street art can attest, Graffiti often express underlying social and political messages.

Social responsibility in graphic design has advocates in both the private sector and the public sector, in large organizations and small, and on an individual basis.

Fight Racism