The research I completed in order to write the extended essay enabled me to make informed design decisions when it came to the practical. The feminist movement had a distinct style through each the different ‘waves’, in the early 20th Century the majority of the design associated with the feminist organisations, such as The National Union of Women’s Suffrage Society and the Women’s Social and Political Union was hand-drawn posters. These hand drawn posters often included shocking illustrations and forward copy, the designs on a whole were monotone and dull, this perhaps mirrors the feelings of the women at this time; they had a lack of freedom and were suppressed. The second wave saw the introduction of more colour, print media was still an essential part however the focus had moved more onto publications such as zines and magazines. Now, in the 21st Century print media in the form of posters and images are back at the forefront, with obvious differences such as the digital age creating a new style. The use of software such as Adobe Illustrator, allows people who aren’t the best as freestyle drawing to create something beautiful to express themselves and share with others.
The majority of early posters included uppercase lettering, as this was a time in which a lot of political change happened for women, I decided to use uppercase in my designs. Although uppercase works well to grab attention, I didn’t want my designs to be as in your face and unfriendly as those from the early 20th Century. The designs are supposed to be accessible by all, with a hand-drawn feel their purpose is to empower women and recruit new feminists, with the goal of being reposted by others to spread the message. When it came to drawing the illustrations that went with the quotes, I was very much thinking of ‘a picture speaks a thousand words’, although basic in style, the illustrations are easy to understand. The added hand-written bubble uppercase text brings the images together and the style as a whole works better than if I had use an existing typeface.
The project could be improved by adding more images that would be suitable for social media header images, this could be achieved by using different dimensions. Another area that could be developed is the colour schemes, although I believe the yellows and pinks work well to stand out against the current crowd of illustrations, as well as helping reclaim pink as a colour feminists are allowed to like; I could have experimented with the colour schemes of the initial suffrage groups, such as purple, green and white. This tactic however would have to be explained in a caption, as the colours aren’t well known today, but it would be a respectful salute to those before me.
Tuesday 18 December 2018
Evaluation
I chose the four strongest pieces and put them in the correct colour scheme to share onto social media platform Instagram. I felt that the heart illustration wasn’t as strong as the rest and the all type quote didn’t have as much power as those with illustrations.
The illustrations and type are designed to a square format as this enables it to fit into the standard size that is seen on Instagram.This ensures that the whole quote can be read on a profile before even having to click on the post.
The combination of the bubbly uppercase letters and the simplistic illustrations get straight to the point and are understandable, this is vital in the age of social media when people’s attention spans are shorter and you don’t have as much time to catch attention and gain intrigue.
Overall I am happy with the finished product, it fits in well with what already exists out there whilst also having its own style. I think the most successful part of the series of images is how well the type and the illustrations work together, they compliment each other in style and make the other stronger. If I had used an existing typeface the images wouldn't have that hand-made feel, this is essential in order to feel accessible to anyone who has social media, they are made to be shared. The messages that they are delivering are with the goal of empowering women and recruiting new feminists, female or male. The whole point of these types of images is that they are made in response to something, in a quick manner and shared almost instantly, therefore I didn't want to develop them too much as it would be against the whole style of the wave. Something I would experiment with further given the chance, would be the colour scheme. Although I believe that the pinks and yellows work well, I would like to try colours used in the first wave of feminism by the likes of the The National Union of Women’s Suffrage Society and the Women’s Social and Political Union (purple, white and green). This would be a respectful nod to the women who fought all that time ago to gain the right to vote and other liberating laws. Another aspect I would further refine is the type, although it is supposed to have the hand-made and fun feel, some of the letters aren't as uniform as the others and therefore make it look slightly messy.
Monday 17 December 2018
Final Images
I decided to use the colours I originally experimented with when using water colours, I feel this makes the images a lot bolder and they therefore grab the viewers attention more so than the pastel colours did. The combination of the bubbly uppercase letters and the simplistic illustrations get straight to the point and are understandable, this is vital in the age of social media when people's attention spans are shorter and you don't have enough time to gain intrigue.
Development 02
Whilst creating the images I experimented with a different colour scheme, a range of pastels that are warm and welcoming.
The idea above illustrates the heart organ, with contrasting sets of legs, one very womanly pair wearing high heels and a standard male pants with flat shoes. I tried helvetica with these illustrations but as you can see below, the illustrations work better with the type I created.
Above is an altered version of the first piece, this enables it to fit into the standard square size that is seen on Instagram, to ensure that the whole quote can be read on a profile before even having to click on the post. There isn't massive amounts of development for these images as the whole style is a quick response to something that can easily be shared on social media.
Development 01
For the images I want the typeface to stand out, from what I've learnt through my research and writing the way to grab peoples attention is to use uppercase lettering. This is what I am going to do, but as my essay shows all uppercase hasn't been used that much in the feminist movement since the early 20th century, in the past few decades type has been softer and often lowercase. With this in mind I am going to compromise with an uppercase type, but the shapes of the letters will be soft and playful.
I tried out a few different styles of letters to see what looked the most welcoming, and accessible to all. I didn't want to try out existing typefaces as the illustrations are to have a fun hand-made and DIY style.
I tried out a few different styles of letters to see what looked the most welcoming, and accessible to all. I didn't want to try out existing typefaces as the illustrations are to have a fun hand-made and DIY style.
This is the type I have created, I tried it out with water colours however have decided that the shapes would be better coloured in digital. This is the colour scheme I am going to move forward with, pinks and yellows are typically feminine colours and I want to use them to end the stigma that feminists can't like pink or be feminine in their style.
Initial ideas
My initial idea is to create a series of illustrations that include a famous feminist quote, the aim of these images is to empower women and recruit new feminists by making the movement relatable. At the moment there is still a lot of hatred against feminists and wrong ideas surrounding what they stand for, I want these quotes and illustrations to stand out on social media and attract attention of the right kind. The designs below are pretty self explanatory in terms of the meaning behind the illustrations, this is inline with the style of designs seen in 2018 for feminism.
I think they key is for women not to set any limits.
Marlina Navatilsa - Tennis player
I have chosen to no longer be apologetic for my femaleness and my femininity. And I want to be respected in all of my femaleness because I deserve to be.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
"A woman shouldn't have to be modest to be respected."
For I conclude that the enemy is not lipstick, but guilt itself; we deserve lipstick, if we want it, AND free speech; we deserve to be sexual AND serious - or whatever we please.
Naomi Wolf - Writer
There is no female mind. The brain is not an organ of sex. Might as well speak of a female liver.
Charlotte Perkins Gilman - Writer (Changed to heart as a liver wouldn't be recognisable to most)
I'm a feminist. I've been a female for a long time now. It'd be stupid not to be on my own side.
Maya Angelous - Writer
Thursday 13 December 2018
Inspirational feminist quotes, imagery/theme ideas
2 There is no female mind. The brain is not an organ of sex. Might as well speak of a female liver.
Charlotte Perkins Gilman - Writer
- draw male and female organs, using stereotypical accessories
3 There's many women now who think 'surely we don't need feminism anymore, we're all liberated and society's accepting us as we are' Which is all hogwash. Its not true at all.
Yoko Ono - Artist
- examples of anti feminism
4 For I conclude that the enemy is not lipstick, but guilt itself; we deserve lipstick, if we want it, AND free speech; we deserve to be sexual AND serious - or whatever we please.
Naomi Wolf - Writer
- lipstick looking typically sexy and smart
5 Do you have a vagina? And do you want to be in charge of it? If you said 'yes' to both, then congratulations - you're a feminist.
Caitlin Moran - Writer
- type
6 I'm very definitely a woman and I enjoy it.
Marilyn Monroe - Actress
- marilyn monroe features
8 Feminism isn't about making women strong. Women are already strong. It's about changing the way the word perceives that strength.
G.D. Anderson
- fist up, woman sign as bracelet or ring with finger up
10 There is a special place in hell for women who don't help other women.
Madeline Albright - Politician
- nasty comment woman in flames
12 I'm a feminist. I've been a female for a long time now. It'd be stupid not to be on my own side.
Maya Angelous - Writer
- cheerleader of self
13 I think they key is for women not to set any limits.
Marlina Navatilsa - Tennis player
- key chain with goals on
#ThisIsNotConsent
"I can’t believe that in a rape trial a lawyer can really be allowed to state that wearing a lacy thong means to be open to meeting someone and therefore to having consensual sex. It’s outrageous.
But this happened in Ireland only a few days ago and there was a protest in Dublin with women marching under the #thisisnotconsent claim.
This is my small illustrated tribute to this cause.
A thong is not consent.
A cute dress is not consent.
A no is a no. No matter the make up, the dress, the underwear. I feel so angry and ashamed of the world I’m living in."
Tweets on the subject of feminism
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| Abortion |
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| Men thinking women owe them something |
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| Owning our own bodies |
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| Violence against women |
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| Owning our own bodies |
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| Violence against women |
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| Violence against women |
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| Women being responsible for everything |
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| Women being responsible for everything |
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| Owning our own bodies |
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| Sexualisation of women |
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| Sexualisation of women |
Wednesday 12 December 2018
Florence Given
20, London Based Artist & Social Issues Advocate
Below are some examples of Florence's work, she sells some of these as prints and on t-shirts.
Florence Given is a UK-based, feminist, designer and illustrator that has capture our admiration on instagram, under the name @florencegivenart (not: “Florence givin’ art” as she recently clarified). You may also recognize Florence from her recent collab with Rita Ora!
We had the luxury of interviewing this up-and-coming, powerful, artist about feminism, inspiration and reclamation of the word “frigid”.
MOTHERSHIP: Tell us how you came into feminism.
Florence Given: When I was fourteen I made the decision to stop wearing a bra (because they are just such a pain in the ass), I realised that everyone around me, mostly girls at my high school, would either stare or actually discuss the fact that you could see the shape of my nipple from my shirt. I realised that men didn’t experience this, even when they’re shirtless. I started googling about female nipples, and realised that the female body is heavily sexualised – at fourteen. It was something I grew to really care about, and free the nipple was my introduction into feminism, I think that it’s a good introduction for western women to start at the small wedge of the problems, if they’re perhaps less aware about issues that women face in the rest of the world. I have been on a mission to empower women since. I learned something new every single day.
MOTHERSHIP: How do you define feminism?
Florence Given: To believe and to be active in the equal treatment of men and women. In our attitudes towards women, how we pay them, in the way they are allowed to express themselves etc. Everything has to change. It can’t carry on being one thing for a man, and one thing for a woman.
MOTHERSHIP: Your art has a special sass and flavour, how did you find your style?
Florence Given: Thank you so much! I started drawing properly when I was 15 where I found a fashion illustration book that I became obsessed with. I developed my style through my exams until the age of 16 when I joined art school to do a diploma in fashion, which is where I really picked up my illustration skills. Looking back at just a year ago when I was 17, the quality of my drawings has seen a vast improvement – because it’s something I do every day religiously now.I never like to depict women looking vulnerable with bulging doll-eyes, I like to make them look like they’re in control. I am fed up with seeing women represented as passive/submissive objects in the media and in art.
MOTHERSHIP: Do you write your own phrases and captions? The writing on your art is soooo concise and to the point. We love it!
Florence Given: Oh god yeah, I write everything myself. It takes me so long to write a caption because I have so much to say I often find myself condensing it. The punchy phrases that I put into my drawings can come to me in an instant, or it could take weeks. But everything comes from me, I like to sound exactly how I sound in person, to keep everything original and personal to me. People like a voice that says it as it is.
MOTHERSHIP: What/who inspires you?
Florence Given: Women. I fucking LOVE women. I think they are incredible. A lot of the time I’m not even inspired by illustrators at all, it’s mainly photographers. I have a tonne of female-erotic fashion photography books which I usually go to for inspiration in my drawings, like Ellen Von Unwerth and Bettina Rheims. Women who are so confident in their own skin, women who are entrepreneurs, women who stand up for the things they believe in, are the epitome of beauty to me. I try to capture confidence in my drawings at all times. I want my followers to feel inspired by the women I draw and relate to them.
MOTHERSHIP: Do you think your feminism with translate into your fashion – has it already?
Florence Given: Of course! Empowering women and feminism is right at the core of my values, so yeah it’s shown up in pretty much everything I do. For my last term on my fashion styling degree I produced and printed a zine called ‘Frigid’ which consisted of styled self-portraits of myself, inspired by all of my favourite photographers! I had it for sale on my store but it’s all sold out now. I have been called frigid so many times before going through my teens because I would ‘put out’ for guys. This zine was my way of claiming back that awful and petty word and making it into something beautiful that I could be proud of.
MOTHERSHIP: What’s next for you?
Florence Given: T-SHIRTS! I have always wanted to create my own line of beautiful t-shirts with my own art on them. I am picking up my old love for typography and working on that to create some beautiful slogan pieces too. I will also be curating another art exhibition over the summer too as part two of Girls, Uninterrupted (the last show I curated).
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