PODIUM is a graphic design lead project that questions the value of visual and verbal communication in the face of adversity. Drawing from a wide pool of contributors with varying professional and personal backgrounds, PODIUM highlights the different ways in which people understand the complex and difficult climate of today’s changing world through a creative lens.

For this first issue, contributors were invited to submit a response to the brief sent via email which asked, “ IF THIS WAS YOUR LAST CHANCE OF EXPRESSING FREE SPEECH, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO SAY AND HOW? “ On the centenary of women’s suffrage in the UK, the world is witnessing a rise in No Platform policies at universities, a growing number of alt-right groups, global press censorship, a prominence of political protest and activism, that all question our established notions of free speech. What is the value of free speech in a world where this freedom is both weaponised and exploited?

More often than not, the actions of others that affect our lives are enforced without reason or understanding. PODIUM sheds light on the creative and decision making process behind each response, by asking contributors to attach a rational of no more than 300 words, so that the given voices can be both understood and questioned.

Contributors

Anthony Burill
Briar Levit
Cameron Platter
David Hillman
Elizabeth Ellis
Erik Brand
Forest Young
Flavia Nalon
Fred Martins
Groupe CCC
Harry Pearce
Heval Okcuoglu
Ken Garland
Kenneth Goldsmith
Luke Pendrell
Majid Abbasi
Marcus Leis Allion

Marion Deuchars
Mark Porter
Mirko Borsche
Richard Hollis
Richard Turley
Sarah Snaith
Sascha Lobe
Nick Asbury
Patrick Thomas
Peter Kennard
Sofie Amalie Klougart
Steve Heller
Supermundane
Thierry Brunfaut
Tom Skipp
Vince Frost
Yasmine Gunaratnam