Design Is Action focuses on Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.” The project uses posters, letterpress and screen printing to bring this human-rights statement into public spaces such as streets and campuses. Posters are direct, visible and easy to circulate, making them an effective medium for connecting public issues with collective attention.
Through letterpress and screen printing, the project also returns the text to a physical and participatory process. Typesetting, inking and printing give the declaration a material presence, while the layered visual effects produced through print emphasise the force and urgency of the message. In this sense, the project is not only about producing finished posters, but also about making the process of printing visible. By combining public display with hands-on production, the project invites Article 5 to be read, discussed and shared again in everyday spaces.
Designer: Yumeng Tian
Date: 5/2025
Details: 594 x 841 mm
Venue: Glasgow, UK