Project Statement

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.

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. 

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.

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

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