~ Framework - research ~

The context of this brief is all about women supporting other women and taking strength in their life. Many of the women helped by the charity are taking refuge from domestic violence. 

"About Leeds Women’s Aid

Leeds Women’s Aid (LWA) is a registered UK charity (number: 1005884)

Leeds Women’s Aid was founded in 1972 by a group of feminist activists who were concerned about the lack of services to support women and children experiencing domestic violence. Since then we have grown to become one of the biggest Women’s Aid projects in the UK. We work closely with other Women’s Aid projects across the UK. This means that if women need help and recognise that they need to leave Leeds to be safe, we can find them a space in a women’s refuge in another part of the UK.

We are a women’s organisation, run by women for women. Our aim is to protect women and children from the damage that domestic violence can inflict on their lives. We believe that women and children have the right to live their lives free from violence and fear.

We work in a non-judgmental and non-directive way, meaning that we don’t tell women what to do. Instead we enable women to make decisions about their lives that help them and their children to lead safer lives. We believe what women and children tell us about their experiences and abuse. This is really important, as sometimes women and children aren’t believed when they try to tell people about the abuse, meaning that it takes them longer to get the help that they need and they experience more abuse."

Because the cause itself was started by a group of feminists I felt it was important to conduct research into this field and use it to inform my design decisions. 

In order to fully realise the historical context behind the exhibition and supporting charity I decided to look back into some previous research I had conducted into visual examples of feminism in the 60's. 

The entire aesthetic surrounding the initial waves of feminism and the feminist underground press as the time was extremely focused on hand rendered techniques. Most images are illustrative and quite shabby/patchy in appearance due to the lack of materials available and print techniques at the time - limited by money. A lot of the title typography was also hand written; and body copy either hand written or created using a typewriter.

The top image is a perfect example of how feminism was iconically made up of this hand written typography that became bold in its own right and was representative of doing it for yourself and taking control. 

This is something I really want to get across in my design as the history behind the charity is just as important as what it is today and the design for the exhibition branding should celebrate that in a modernised and relevant way. 

In order to bring the contextual research behind the brief into a more contemporary brief/outcome I also conducted some research into looking how modern day feminist zines take selective inspiration from those historical examples. Often using a combination of digital type and techniques and selective hints of hand rendered illustrations and type. This is something I will use to inform the production and tone of voice that my posters will have.