20th-century Graphic Design was deeply intertwined with countercultures and underground scenes, from hippie graphics of the 1960s to Act Up in the 1980s. By the 00s designers felt empowered to repackage mainstream culture to look and act like countercultures they loved, unintentionally erasing the line between “us” and “them” in the process. A recent resurgence in nostalgic design has intensified the blurring: that line now runs down the middle of each of us. In a world where mass culture absorbs anything interesting, can counter-cultures still exist? If so what do they really counter? And what is the potential of graphic design in Counter-Culture?
Co-Founder and Executive Director, AllOut.org
Senior Advisor, Purpose
In our dynamic world, art reflects conditional reality, and design contributes to further development of global societies. At Parsons School of Design, rigorous practice and critical scholarship prepares students to become leading agents of commentary and change.
School of Art, Media, and Technology
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