An accessible and richly illustrated exploration of how art and design have driven major social and political change in the 21st century.

Visual Impact highlights the extraordinary power of art and graphic design to effect social and political change. Richly illustrated with over 400 images, this is a visual guide to the most influential and highly politicised imagery of the digital age.

Organised thematically by global issues and events, Visual Impact's generously illustrated spreads, clearly present and explain the most influential and highly politicised imagery of the twenty-first century. Themes and issues include popular uprisings (the Arab Spring, the London Riots), social activism (marriage equality), and environmental crises (Hurricane Katrina), as well as the recent Je Suis Charlie protests.

Showcasing over 200 artists and designers, ranging from internationally renowned names such as Ai Wei Wei and Shepard Fairey to anonymous internet users distributing work across Twitter and Facebook, Visual Impact features exciting graphics from emerging economies such as Brazil, Russia and China, and recent work created in response to the Arab Spring.

Complements Phaidon titles Graphic Agitation and Graphic Agitation 2 by providing insight to the art and design shaping today's global political landscape.

About the Author

Liz McQuiston divides her time between graphic design practice, teaching and writing. Her publications include Women in Design:A Contemporary View and The Graphic Design Sourcebook, as well as Graphic Agitation, Graphic Agitation 2, and Suffragettes to She-Devils, published by Phaidon.

Reviews

"an accessible and richly illustrated guide to the most influential and highly politicised imagery of the 21st century. Sounds good to me." -Huffington Post

"a tremendous amount of material from around the world since 9/11. All of it is carefully and accurately contextualised." -Eye

"art and graphic design is driving social and political change in the 21st century [Visual Impact] uncovers common themes about use of technology and the role of the designer. ...the consumer now has to pick through a barrage of images and content to work out what is relevant and important - something this new book does in style. ...There's also a fascinating and very timely study of protest posters and artwork documenting the ongoing conflict in Syria." -Design Week

"visual protest continues to be a vital part of any social movement... [McQuiston] makes an excellent case that trained and dedicated designers, artists and photographers are continuing to produce visual dissent of great inventiveness and power. ...an immensely thorough selection of international projects." -Creative Review

Book Information
ISBN 9780714869704
Author Liz McQuiston
Format Paperback
Page Count 240
Imprint Phaidon Press Ltd
Publisher Phaidon Press Ltd
Weight(grams) 554g
Dimensions(mm) 270mm * 180mm * 20mm