World Premiere of Graphis “Designers for Peace” Poster Exhibition Brings Together Leading Contemporary Designers From Over 30 Countries In Response to Ukraine Invasion

Graphis DESIGNERS FOR PEACE: UNITED WITH UKRAINE is a global exhibition of contemporary poster art created as a united voice of opposition to the war in Ukraine.

New York, NY, November 14, 2022 – Graphis announced today the premiere and opening exhibition of Designers for Peace: United with Ukraine, a gallery of contemporary poster art from the international design community voicing opposition to the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. The exhibition is being presented by AIGA San Diego Tijuana and will be held as a cross-border event opening the following night in Tijuana, Mexico. The San Diego exhibition opens on November 16, 2022 and runs through December 30, 2022. The Mexico exhibition opens on November 17, at Casa de la Cultura in Tijuana, Baja California. 

The exhibition features more than 350 pieces of poster art from over 30 countries. The juried exhibition was created through a month-long call for entries and curated by Graphis CEO B. Martin Pedersen, and jury chair, Kit Hinrichs, Studio Hinrichs. The posters on display have each been created since the beginning of the ​Russian invasion of Ukraine, with the exception of Armando Milani’s War/Peace poster created for the United Nations 60th anniversary in 2021, which will also be on display. Select exhibition posters and signed limited editions will be available for sale. Proceeds support Ukraine humanitarian aid through José Andres’ World Central Kitchen and International Relief Teams.  

As the world continues to be outraged at Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the global design community has risen to show support for the people of Ukraine. Their fight to maintain independence and territory generated a new wave of reflection on the travesties and brutal aggression of war. These powerful posters offer global points of view from impassioned protests to messages of peace and hope. At a time when Ukraine’s very existence is threatened, Graphis invites the public to see these timely works of art through the eyes of designers today. 

“Graphis is proud to bring the voice of our global design community together in opposition to this unprovoked invasion, and resulting humanitarian crisis impacting the people of Ukraine and beyond,” said B. Martin Pedersen. “Through the messages relayed in these posters, we hope to make even a small difference through our united front against the war, and with a deep commitment to shared human values and to supporting the victims, the people of Ukraine. We are honored to invite audiences to the exhibition to connect with the deeply compelling poster art at this fragile moment in time.” 

Key pieces in the exhibition include: 

• Bear Kills Dove, Nancy Stahl (US), whose drawing of a bear and dove centers on the disinformation and brutality that Russia has used to blind its population to the reality of the invasion and the extent of destruction they have committed in Ukraine; 

• Help Ukraine, Carmit Haller, Carmit Design Studio (US) in response to the people of Ukraine calling out in desperation for help, the poster depicts an image of two hands—one reaching out for help and the other pulling it upwards for salvage with the hands carrying the colors of the Ukraine flag;
• Volodymyr Zelensky: Light Will Win the Darkness, Charis Tsevis (Cyprus), was inspired to create a mosaic portrait of President Zelensky in the very first days of the war. Married to a Ukrainian woman and with family in Ukraine, he chose Zelensky as it's very unusual to find a leader who is risking his own life and interests to fight for ideals. The portrait was crafted with traditional Ukrainian fabrics celebrating earth, nature, happiness, family, and work, and integrated with photos from the war and photos from Ukraine; 
• Save Ukraine, Peter Kraemer Illustration (Germany), the call for entries inspired Kraemer to express his mood in this illustrated poster after following the daily news about the brutal war in Ukraine with great concern.

“I was overwhelmed by the response from designers around the world to the heinous, unprovoked invasion of Ukraine by Putin and the Russian military. The visuals for many of the posters carried powerful, heartfelt concepts crafted around the brutality of the current crisis,” said Kit HInrichs. “I found them thought-provoking and beautiful in their emotional execution. I look forward to the publication and exhibitions of these posters in cities around the globe, and hope that they will increase the outcry to bring this war to an end.”

The Designers for Peace jury was made up of prominent international designers including jury chair, Kit Hinrichs (US), Charles S. Anderson (US), Peter Bankov (Czech Republic), David Carson (US), Luke Hayman (US), Eve Steben (UK), João Machado (Portugal), Andrew Hoyne (Australia), Armando Milani (Italy), Harry Pearce (UK), Toshiaki & Hisa Ide (US), Boris Ljubicic (Croatia), DJ Stout (US).

“We judged on a scale of 1-10, but I believe everyone who entered deserves a 10. Designers trying to make a difference no matter how small. We saw an abundance of outstanding work. I leaned towards work that addressed specifically Ukraine, not so much war in general, though certainly they would apply,” shared David Carson, designer and Designers for Peace judge.

Numerous exhibitions are being planned around the world.

For sponsorship, or information on hosting an exhibition, contact [email protected].

General Information: 

• The opening reception is November 16th in San Diego. The exhibition is free to the public running November 17 through December 31, 2022 at UCSD Park & Market in downtown San Diego. 
• The Tijuana, Mexico exhibition will be held at Casa de la Cultura beginning and run concurrently November 18 through the end of the year.
• Members of the public are invited to visit Monday through Friday, 10am–5pm. 

About Graphis
Graphis is dedicated to promoting and celebrating the most compelling work from global talents in Design, Advertising, Photography and Illustration art through their awards, books and magazines.. With over 150,000 individual pieces of work in its repository, Graphis has one of the most significant collections of creative excellence worldwide and includes one of the most extensive archives of the work and biographical material from all periods dating back to 1944 when it was founded in Switzerland. Graphis’ mission is to ensure that the significance within the cultural and social context over time is historically archived and continues to be developed, promoting the best professional and emerging talents from around the world. Graphis aims to bring together creative insights and add to our cultural understanding around the world from the past, the present and into the future.

Learn more at https://www.graphis.com/

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NOT FOR PUBLIC:

Media is invited to the San Diego Opening Reception from 5-6pm 

Rsvp to [email protected]

Media Resources: Select high res images from the exhibit are available here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/cr77mutj7dvjefl/AAA8LcIwbaLCeiUQfM4iWpRFa?dl=0

Link to view all posters: https://www.graphis.com/competition/designers-for-peace-posters/recent-winners/

View video featuring nearly 400 posters: https://vimeo.com/767967199

Kit Hinrichs and other designers are available for interviews.