Posters designed by University students selected for international humanitarian campaign

Posters designed by University of Gloucestershire Design and Creative Advertising students have been chosen for a global campaign promoting humanitarian support for vulnerable groups in Afghanistan.

The organisation Action for Afghanistan has selected work by Reene Lim (pictured), Ethan Matthews, Siobhan Smith, Celyn Jones, Ellie Cole (all Graphic Design), Olivia Checkley, Freya Rowley, Sam Swancott, Elina Ruprai, Pelle Hallam, Carys Kyffin-Hughes and Kate Piercy (all Creative Advertising) to be displayed as part of its international and national campaign activities.

Graphic Design and Creative Advertising students from the University were set the poster brief by Zehra Zaidi, the Director and co-founder of Action for Afghanistan, when she visited to give a presentation about the impact of design on societal issues.

These posters, encompassing strong messaging and impactful designs, were then chosen from a strong selection of submissions by the students.

Reene Lim said: “In my design (pictured left) I wanted to celebrate the beautiful colours of Afghanistan’s traditional clothing. I created a juxtaposition using tone of voice and colour to explain how, even if their colours are slowly being drained from their life, they still have hope.”

Siobhan Smith said: “My design (pictured below) features a strong, brave, defiant woman holding a green scarf fighting for freedom. I wanted to celebrate her beautiful hair which is so much a part of their identity.”

Claudia Brewster, Course Leader for the BA (Hons) Graphic Design course based within the University’s School of Arts, said: “We’re extremely proud of the way our students rose to the challenge they were set by Zehra to design a poster that would be used as part of Action for Afghanistan’s upcoming campaign activities.”

“The students were able to combine effective campaign messaging with eye-catching designs that will have real-world impact, which is exactly the kind of brief they will be working to within the design and advertising industry.

“The posters will be displayed at the march in solidarity with Afghan women and girls on 27 November, and at the Global Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative Conference in the UK on 28-30 November, attended by dignitaries from around the world, so they’ll have huge global circulation.”

Action for Afghanistan supports women and other vulnerable groups to exit Afghanistan and resettle in the UK, as well as running campaigns and convening key Afghanistan-related stakeholders around themes such providing humanitarian support to vulnerable groups in the country.

Action for Afghanistan said: “These posters are so powerful and meaningful. We would like to thank the University of Gloucestershire students for their hard work.

“These posters were recently presented at a dinner for former Afghan female politicians who fled the country, and they thought that the posters were magnificent.”