What can graphic design do to help tackle environmental degradation? Well, these Iranian designers think a lot.
Exploring the nexus where art and nature meet, Iranian designers look at the environmental problems riddling their cities and the innovative ways they can resolve them. Whether it’s reducing the use of cars, discussing the place of graphic art in urban design or highlighted the seriousness of climate change, these graphic designers really have something to say (or is that draw?). The stunning graphic designs which follow were all finalists in the FeliCity design competition and were displayed at an art gallery in Tehran this September.
Mohamad Adnani – Iran. New Sign For New City
Padina Pourseif – Iran
Help
“Growing trend of cities and pollution, has created a big problem today. This plan shows the city is polluted and crowded , that black smoke is everywhere. Please do not wait until the page completely becomes black – this is a request that all citizens reflect on a remedy for pollution before it’s too late and the city becomes all black. As the posters insists, demand ‘Help’.”
Afshin Esmaili – Iran.
The Sorrow of greenness.
“Protest and opposition to the urban environment and destroying natural environment.”
Mohammad Hajhashemi- Iran.
Extinction
“Natural resources take form after a very long time and have extremely low recycling rates. However their destruction by humans takes place incredibly fast. Considering their vital importance to living things and urban life, the difference between the rates of formation and consumption of these resources will mostly threaten the existence of the threatener itself.”
Ali Mohammad – Ganjalikhan/ Iran.
Channel for Change
“Rivers (or water) play an important role in urban life style and the healthy attitude of the community.”
Shila Sarraf- Iran
Urban structures require a re- think?
Ali Afsarpour – Iran
HOW TO CHANGE YOURSELF
“Step 1: Accept and admit that you need to change. This is a huge step. The fact that you already clicked on this article shows that you want to change, and know somewhere you have a problem.
Step 2: Think of all the things in your life you want better. Make a list of all the things, or the thing, that you want to change.
Step 3:Don’t set any limits to your change. If you think maybe, someone will make fun of you for trying to change, or maybe it isn’t possible, or that you just can’t, realize that it doesn’t matter! It’s a psychological change, so attitude plays a big part in your ability to succeed. Set small, easy goals that you know you can achieve and work your way up.
Step 4: Write the steps that you need to take to achieve the changes you want.”
Ali Abdi- Iran
Does graphic art have a sense in times of urban crisis?
“When you live in a city that has too many problems and city officials do not understand Architecture, Urban Design & Environmental Graphic Design and access to basic needs of life is difficult for many people, and when their Environment, Beauty & Art are not considered the Graphic Arts performance loses its Communication feature and becomes Decorative Art.”
Now, our humble reader, your views. What do you think graphic design can do for the environment? Can it really inspire real action and real solutions or is it nothing more than clever designs? And where do increasingly popular infographics sit in all this? Have they helped promote the importance and role of graphic design for social change or replaced it forever?
For more on green Iran see:
It’s Official – Iran Has The Most Polluted Cities In The World
Food Shortages Could Force World To Go Veggie
Cheetahs In Iran On The Brink of Extinction
Saudi Arabia & Iran Are Overexploiting Their Groundwater Supplies
All posters via FeliCity
Author: Arwa Aburawa
Arwa is a Muslim freelance writer who is interested in everything climate change related and how Islam can inspire more people to care for their planet and take active steps to save it while we can. She is endlessly suspicious of all politicians and their ceaseless meetings, especially as they make normal people believe that they are not part of the solution when they are the ONLY solution. Her Indian auntie is her model eco-warrier, and when Arwa is not busy helping out in the neighborhood alleyway garden, swap shopping or attempting fusion vegetarian dishes- with mixed success, she’d like to add- she can be found sipping on foraged nettle tea.
I’m glad to see an effective peaceful protest.