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Research and analyse museum artefacts to inspire and develop a new creative work, focusing on reinterpreting their qualities in an innovative way within a chosen discipline.
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This project explores the intersection of football, fan culture, and design, focusing on both intentional and unintentional design outputs within the sport. The research centres on how fan-driven visuals shape the football experience and influence social narratives. An analysis of sportswashing, particularly in World Cup football, reveals the role of protest posters in spreading awareness and countering mainstream narratives. These posters act as a visual resistance, offering an alternative to state-controlled messaging.
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Layering and photocopying techniques were used to develop protest posters, emphasising immediacy and accessibility. The raw, spontaneous nature of the process aligns with the fan-made aesthetic of grassroots activism. Referee iconography, the offside flag and visual authority were repurposed to create a campaign encouraging mindfulness in stadiums.
‘Say Onside’ serves as a double meaning, urging fans not to cross the line.
The campaign extends into matchday programmes, a cherished tradition in football culture. Rather than producing an entirely new programme, jackets were designed to slip over existing ones, seamlessly integrating into the fan media landscape.
The intaglio printing process reinforces the historical connection to fan-made posters. The absence of text in certain pieces allows for a more universal interpretation, relying solely on visual language to communicate restraint and awareness.
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Inspired by the culture of collecting and trading stickers, a series was designed to be swapped, collected into books, or placed around stadiums on away days, with each sticker unique to a club. This taps into existing fan networks and their innate desire to collect, ensuring the message spreads organically.
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Argentina ‘78 Protest Poster
Programme Cover Notes
Programme Cover Outside
Programme Cover Inside
Intaglio Printing Process
Final Print
Stickers
Sticker Book
Out in the Wild