The Power of Design | The Poster v Racism

Posters have been used in public spaces since the 19th century as a way to protest and promote political causes, but how effective is the format today in the fight against racism?

In the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020, designer, Greg Bunbury and other Black British creatives were invited, as part of the social initiative Black Outdoor Art, to submit artwork around themes of racism, equality, and empowerment to outdoor advertising billboards in London, Leeds and Bristol. The result was “the marketing of anti-racism” in spaces of high visibility that hadn’t previously been available to Black creatives.

Watch as Greg Bunbury reveals the artworks he created for the project, titled ‘Shout’ and ‘I Can’t Breathe’, their inspiration, design process and impact.

00:00 What can posters do?
00:22 What inspired the poster 'Shout'
01:38 The Black Outdoor Art Project and the marketing of anti-racism
03:46 The power of unexpectedness
05:43 The power of the poster
06:16 Design process
08:41 Have we made any progress in the fight against racism?

Greg Bunbury is a graphic designer, a diversity and inclusion consultant, and a university lecturer. He helps businesses, organisations, and institutions connect with marginalised and diverse audiences, and teaches students about purpose-driven design.

Find out more about Greg Bunbury and Black Outdoor Art
https://bunbury.co/

View our 26,000 strong poster collection – the most extensive in the UK
https://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/pos...

The Poster v Racism is the first in the The Power of Design series, which looks at recently acquired objects into the V&A's Digital and Design Collections and their connection to current global issues.