Peace to Ukraine + A Teaching Moment: Designers for Peace Posters

The current deadline for our Designers for Peace competition is midnight tonight, so get your entries in and make yourself heard, just like these artists!

“Peace to Ukraine” (above, left) was created by Arnaud Ghelfi, a Swiss-American art director and graphic designer based in the San Francisco Bay area. Originally, the piece was created as a part of the #Paintadove4ukraine, which is an Instagram initiative started by the watercolor artist Isabelle Holroyd.  Inspired by the “Dove of Peace” painting by Ukrainian artist Maria Primachenko, the initiative was formed just days before some of her works were tragically destroyed in Ivankik. Since then, the hashtag has been followed by hundreds of artists, each painting featuring doves to show their support for the Ukrainian people. In his own piece, Ghelfi wishes peace to the people of Ukraine through the depiction of a white dove carrying an olive branch placed between the intersection of the yellow and blue of the Ukrainian flag.

“Teach Peace” (above, right) was created by Derwyn Goodall, designer and founder of Goodall Integrated Design. In response to the devastating news coming out of Ukraine, Derwyn wanted to create a compelling poster to denounce the Russian invasion of Ukraine and underline the importance of teaching peace. Using the two words “Teach Peace” as the main visual on the page, the phrase stands out in large red font against the deep blue background of the poster, coinciding with two colors of the Russian flag. The letters “E”, “A”, and “C” are shared between the two words to represent  Goodall’s belief that both words are inextricably connected and supportive of one another when it comes to building, strengthening, and restoring communities.

Marlena Buczek Smith is a social impact poster designer and illustrator whose work has been exhibited around the world. For her poster “War Can Not Be Bandaged” (above, left), Smith created a layered collage of Band-Aids which she spray-painted blue and yellow. Near the top of the poster, more Band-Aids spell out the word “War” and are painted blood red with a matching dripping effect that goes down to where it reads “cannot be bandaged.” This provocative piece is a candid representation of the irreversible damage and harm Russia’s ongoing attack is having on  Ukrainian citizens, reminding us all of the very real and deadly cost of war. 

Tel Aviv-based designer Kobi Franco created his poster called “HOPE 2023” (above, right) to inspire people to look toward the future with hope and optimism. Incorporating the Ukrainian flag’s yellow and blue colors, Franco crafted an abstract pattern out of different shapes and graphics to use as the poster’s background. At the center of the piece, the word “Hope” is spelled out in bold letters, with the addition of the year 2023 artfully combined with each letter. With this thoughtful design, Franco wants his poster to be seen as a celebration of life, and as encouragement for people to remain hopeful for better days in the year to come.

There is still time to submit your artwork! Visit Graphis.com to learn more.