Graphic Design Students Tackle Gender Based Violence


Graphic Design third year students did an awareness ad and campaign against gender based violence.
Given the brief; Designers for change: We the People/ We can be the change, students made 30 second videos celebrating women, gay or straight and highlighted key issues within our society.

With women being the backbone of society but still the most vulnerable, designers needed people to find their common humanity and look beyond narrow definitions of what it means to be women in South Africa.


According to Global and Regional Estimates of violence against women, one in five women are abused by a partner. The aim of the campaign was to capture the essence of gender based violence and highlight inequalities, prejudices, perceptions and realities faced everyday by the majority of women.

Third year Graphic Design student, Mpumelelo Zwane said, " with the video, we researched different perspectives of women in terms of what they go through on a daily basis by males who objectify them as sexual objects."



Further research was done finding out why women are portrayed the way they are in society today.
Sebastian Pillay, third year Graphic Design student explained the theme of their video, 'Society Dictates'.

"Society holds back your input as women and your goals for example, telling you what can and cannot be done since you are a girl," said Pillay.

Apart from the students broadening their understanding of gender based violence, they hoped to educate the society and strive for change. Striving for a society where men and women are seen as equals.

Graphic Design Lecturer, Frank Kalala said, " this project was a design activism project."
Although it was for marks, the students got involved in a project that deals with social issues.

The 30 second movies were entered into a national competition called The Hidden Agenda.

-CARLY VAN DER WESTHUIZEN

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