The Women's Suffrage Movement effectively utilised graphic design to advocate for women's right to vote. In the 1910s, suffragists distributed numerous posters, depicting strong and empowered women demanding equality, to garner support. These posters were prominently displayed on buildings, across streets, and in shop windows. The National American Woman Suffrage Association established its own publishing company, employing female professional artists like Rose O'Neill to create powerful and persuasive designs. 

Harvard College (2020) 'Suffrage Posters' URL

In the early 1980s, the AIDS epidemic devastated communities, particularly among gay men, and sparked a series of protest movements demanding urgent action and awareness. These protests were essential in addressing the widespread stigma, fear, and inaction surrounding the crisis. Graphic design played a pivotal role in these movements, with powerful visuals that conveyed critical messages and rallied public support. One of the most iconic examples is the "Silence = Death" poster, featuring a pink triangle, which became a lasting symbol of the fight against AIDS and the necessity of vocal advocacy.

Finkelstein, A. (2023) 'Behind the Iconic Protest Posters of the AIDS Activist Movement,' University of California, URL

Shepard Fairey, known for his iconic "OBEY" art, has consistently used his work to stand up for civil rights and social justice. Since his famous Obama "Hope" portrait, Fairey has remained a vocal advocate for change through his art, using it as a platform to address political and social issues. 

In 2017, following Donald Trump's election, Shepard Fairey launched the "We the People" campaign with Amplifier, a non-profit promoting social change through art. Concerned about growing intolerance, Fairey created portraits of African American, Muslim, and Latin American women to symbolise groups marginalised by the new administration. Rendered in tones of blue, white, and red to reflect the U.S. flag, these portraits conveyed a powerful message of unity and inclusion. The phrase "We the People," from the U.S. Constitution, reinforced the idea that all individuals are integral to the nation. Fairey made these images freely downloadable, allowing them to be widely reproduced as posters and billboards during demonstrations, amplifying the campaign's call for a more inclusive society and equal rights for all minorities. 

Wunderkammern (2021) 'Shepard Fairey – We the People' URL

Shepard Fairey created a new Time magazine cover ahead of the 2020 U.S. Presidential election. This cover, marking the first time in the magazine's 100-year history that the logo was replaced with the imperative to vote, addressed themes of police brutality, racial discrimination, voter suppression, and political division. The cover featured a woman wearing a bandana as a face covering, symbolising safety, respect, and belief in science amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This powerful visual urged viewers to recognise the importance of voting as a crucial act for maintaining a healthy democracy.

The Art Newspaper (2020) 'Shepard Fairey—creator of famous Obama 'Hope' poster—makes new Time cover image ahead of US election' URL

The second P in CRAPPS is about Principles of Design and elements of Art. Below are some points on how these designers used visual and text choices to ensure their powerful messages were clear and understood by audiences, prompting change.