Representation

The history of graphic design has traditionally skewed toward designers from white hegemony. Where white men (and some women) tend to fill the pages, webpages, and galleries that celebrate design. As humanity evolves, we must realize the value of making space for more diverse voices in the design world. This episode elevates Black designers who have successfully fought against the forces of white supremacy and oppression to take back control of representation. Starting with Abolitionist broadsides, this episode examines how mostly white creators of broadsides, used to support the antislavery movement, were hindered by what we now call the “White Savior Complex” and that the tone of abolitionist imagery and vocabulary was marked by the perceived superiority of the white Northern audience. Next, we look to the famous “I AM A MAN” protest signs of the Civil Rights marches. These protest signs have endured and evolved into modern iterations as a piece of living history highlighting the fight for racial equality which continues to be an inspiration for art and design practices today.  The episode also takes a deep dive into the life and work of Archie Boston. Archie Boston is a graphic designer known for creating subversive, self-aware work in the advertising and design industry. The genius of his designs is that he often appropriates and retrofits racist imagery, similar to how Black vernacular has reclaimed certain racial slurs. Rounding out the discussion is a survey of current design collectives and groups of professional creatives such as the Design Justice Network. This episode discovers insightful parallels between Black representation in the Abolition era and today, clearly demonstrating that the best advocates for Black freedom and equality are Black people. Graphic design in the hands of Black activists becomes a powerful force for positive change and strengthening communities.

TIMELINE - ARCHIE BOSTON

1943 – b Clewiston, Florida 
1961 – started attending Chouinard Art Institute
1964 – interned at Carson/Roberts
1965 – worked at Hixson And Jorgensen Advertising
1966 – became art director at Botsford Ketchum
1967 – started Boston & Boston Design with his brother Bradford
1969 – left Boston & Boston and rejoined Botsford Ketchum
1973 – started Archie Boston Design 
1977 – received master’s degree from the University of Southern California
1977 – started lecturing at California State University Long Beach (CSULB)
2001 – published Fly in the Buttermilk: Memoirs of an African American in Advertising Design & Design Education
2009 – published Lil' Colored Rascals in the Sunshine City

TIMELINE - BLACK DESIGNERS FIGHTING AGAINST PREJUDICE AND SYSTEMIC OPPRESSION

1830s – Abolitionist Broadsides, weaponized advocating to free slaves
1900 – WEB Du Bois and Black Data, Infographic Activism
1963 – March on Washington protest signs.
1966 – Boston and Boston advertisements, “Ku Klux Klan”, “For Sale”
1968 – I AM A MAN, Memphis Sanitation Strike
1980s – Archie Boston Graphic Design, “I don’t want to marry your daughter”
2016/2017 – Martin Typeface designed by Tré Seals inspired by I AM A MAN, Memphis Sanitation Strike posters
2021 – Black lives matter protest posters

REFERENCES

Archie Boston Graphic Design files. (n.d.). Online Archive of California. https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8183dtf/

Archie Boston papers, 1963-2018 and undated - Archives & Manuscripts at Duke University Libraries. (n.d.). David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library. https://archives.lib.duke.edu/catalog/bostonarchie

Barrett, L. (2014, February 12).