Designers Against Child Slavery is an art and design collective aimed gathering work from artists across the world in an effort to draw attention to, and eventually end, youth sex trafficking.
Designers Against Child Slavery has made it a mission to combine talents from culturally disparate artists, ranging in age, race, and artistic style in order to show the public that they can help inspire meaningful change in the world by contributing what they have to offer, even if what they have to offer isn't the norm.
For the images in this Designers Against Child Slavery collection, Cyprus based artist Alex Marcou creates an illustration that is painful yet powerful portrait of a young woman tied to a bedpost and being beaten, her body gripped in terror and her face dotted with pink tears, saliva and sweat. The image is a perfect example of what Designers Against Child Slavery does -- forces the harsh realities of one of the world's biggest human rights violations to the forefront of a viewer's mind. This portion of the DACS' movement will be exhibited in New York City, in August 2011.
Implications - One of the most effective ways a company that specializes in PSA or socially conscious movements can generate attention for its cause is by featuring advertising that bluntly displays the human damage and cost the issue causes. By putting a face on that pain, the company immediately hammers home the impact and effect of the issue when no one does or says anything. This emotional connect with viewers can engender a strong desire to help, whether fiscally or with attention.
Painful Protest Art
Designers Against Child Slavery Teams with Artists to End Sex Trafficking
Trend Themes
1. Art as Activism - Combining art with activism to bring attention to social and political issues can generate strong emotional connections with viewers and inspire meaningful change.
2. Collaborative Creativity - Bringing together artists from culturally disparate backgrounds and styles can create powerful and impactful works that speak to a wide audience.
3. Socially Conscious Advertising - Bluntly displaying the human impact and cost of social issues in PSA ads can emotionally connect with viewers and generate strong desires to help.
Industry Implications
1. Art and Design - Art and design collectives can use their creative talents to draw attention to social and political issues and inspire change.
2. Advertising and Marketing - PSA and socially conscious advertising companies can use emotional connections to generate support for social causes.
3. Non-profit and Social Impact - Non-profit and social impact organizations can collaborate with artists and designers to create awareness campaigns and advocacy programs.