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BLACK
LIVES
MATTER

As designers committed to decolonizing our practices, we feel that it is important for us to help amplify Black voices that have historically been underrepresented within our discipline. We are using this site as a public platform in support of Black Lives Matter within our communities and beyond. We ask that you take some time alongside looking at our work, to explore these collected resources.

FOR DESIGNERS:

Dear white & non-Black POC designers
Where are the Black designers?
Decolonial Teaching in Action

FOR EVERYONE:

Anti-Racist Resource Guide: Become a better ally
A Radical Library (incl. books, texts, podcasts, & articles)
How to talk to people who disagree
How to support Black artists

Mrinal Dhase

Unfair

Colourism is a prominent problem in many cultures around the world. Discrimination against those of darker skin tones is seen in day-to-day life through popular media, advertising and more, and impacts the lives of many. My project, "Unfair," focuses on how this issue has become normalized in South Asian culture by tracing colourism back to it's roots in the caste system and colonialism, and how it has become what it is today.

Publication
Social Justice
Typography

About the designer

Hey! I'm Mrinal Dhase, pronounced "mrih-naal dha-say," and my interests lie mainly in the fields of fashion, world history, social justice and philosophy. Besides graphic design, I like to also dabble in other creative disciplines including drawing & painting, vocal music, photography, creative writing & installation work. Whenever possible, I love to combine various arts to create work that best represents my goal at hand.

What skill did you say you would teach yourself over summer, but procrastinated and gave up?

I wanted to teach myself how to make my own clothes, but that's what this quarantine is for!

The title "Unfair" is a play on words; colourism ensures that people with "fair" skin are treated better than those with "unfair" skin, which is unfair. You get it.
A theme throughout the book is Retro Bollywood, because while it features gorgeous imagery, many themes around beauty are problematic and seriously idealize light skin.
My book "Unfair" goes into in-depth discussions about the roots of colourism which lie in the ancient caste system, colonialism & other invaders, and popular media.
The section "It's All Relative" talks about a major theme of sibling comparison in terms of skin tone in the South Asian community. Within it, you can see these photographs (taken by me) of twins Isa & Sia alongside an interview with their parents.
The section also features photographs of my own sister Prachi and I, (directed by me, shot by Jason Zante), as well as a discussion-style interview I had with her in which we talk about our own experiences with colourism.

Recession Grads is a digital archive & exhibition set to showcase the work of the Graphic Design 2020 graduating class at OCADU.

INSTAGRAM

BLM RESOURCES