Over the past several decades, we have seen the number of democratic societies around the globe increase, and during the past ten years, there has been a heightened awareness of the increasing conflicts and problems that both directly and indirectly affect our everyday lives. With the Middle East?s never ending conflict, the war on terrorism, and the numerous financial and environmental crises, people?s sense of safety, power, and representation has diminished in part because they feel they have no voice.
Designers, however, have used their skills to communicate their dissent throughout history and are doing so even more now with the birth of the Web and the increasing ease of distributing posters and other printed materials. A picture is worth a thousand words and designers have used this adage to their advantage by creating simple yet powerful designs that immediately convey poignant messages to their viewers. The Design of Dissent will examine graphic work focusing on social and political concerns from around the globe. The time is certainly ripe as the U.S. -- and world -- flare in opposition on so many important issues.
