Isn’t Ice Transparent?

The latest protest poster I have created targets ICE (Immigration Control & Enforcement) directly by making the metaphorical comparison to the transparency of frozen water.

An illustration supporting the concept of transparency in government.

When it comes to the concept and design of protest posters, the creative process is very similar to that of creating a billboard. Delivering an effective message on these mediums is challenging for the simple reason that, on average, you are likely to have the undivided attention of your audience for no more than two or three seconds.

This requires the message to be distilled into its most succint execution — translating the concept through simple, frank, and memorable words and images. Design should be minimalistic and serve the core concept. Embellishments are merely visual distractions unless they serve the overarching message.

Bold, san-serif fonts are my preference as they are very effective at remaining legible over large distances. Typically, I would avoid the overuse of all caps but, when the message is succint, legibility does not suffer. And, on a purely emotional level, lower-case letterforms tend to evoke a sense of friendly calm, whereas, bold, all-caps letters command attention and increase the metaphorical sense of volume and, therefore, urgency. It compels a call to action.

The employment of puns, satire, and double-entendres, makes the messge more palatable and memorable. Humor, in particular, has always been an effective tool for breaking through to your audience. It can make the concept more relatable which, in turn, provides your audience with a level of comfort in accepting an ideal that might otherwise be controversial or problematic.

In this instance, I have created a message that I hope will speak to two distinctly different audiences: the protesters fighting for their rights, and the very ICE agents who are targeting them.

To the second group, this message is not one of humour but, rather, one of shame. The message’s intent is to expose the agency’s egregious violations by reminding them that they are no longer upholding the tenet of transparency.