Design: New Entries from Canada by Ben Johnston & Underline Studio

The Design Annual 2020 competition is already filled with innovative and purposeful designs that change the way we live and look at the world. Two recent entries from Canada did just that. Ben Johnston submitted “Por Siempre” (ABOVE), a mural painted in the Hispanic area of Worcester. They described their approach to us: “After discussing ideas with a few locals for the messaging, we decided to use the words “Por Siempre,” translating to “Forever,” as a reminder to always be proud of where you are from, your ethnicity and your fellow neighbors.” The high quality of the mural coupled with its good intention makes for quite an important project.

Another powerful new submission came in from Underline Studio called “Lines Breaking” (ABOVE). This social justice paper is filled with powerful, yet simple imagery that speaks volumes. Large black rectangles are reminiscent of redacted text and strong headlines catch their readers’ attention. In the firm’s description of their assignment they wrote, “This edition focuses on the current Central American refugee crisis. Our aim with these publications is to raise awareness about these issues and to raise funds for organizations working on behalf on these marginalized communities.” Like many of this year’s entries, bold designs support and highlight an important cause.

Submit to the Design Annual 2020 competition by April 30, 2019 by 11:59pm EST! Winners will have the opportunity to see their work published on our website, blog, newsletter, and social media platforms!