Open Letter From Russian Creatives

We have received an open letter from Russian creatives, designers, and illustrators, whose names are not known, which they addressed to their government. The lines touch us, because they express a deep love for their profession—and make clear what remains of it when one’s own country goes to war.

As designers and illustrators, they say, they learned “to be understanding and empathetic” in order to do their work effectively, to use the most advanced technology, and to ”speak a language” that everyone in the world understands—the language of visual communication. Their work only is possible when there is peace, it says. “The war unfolding at the initiative of the Russian government is destroying the country and underscoring the importance of our profession.”

But above all, the letter addresses colleagues, friends, and relatives in Ukraine whose lives are in danger, and pleads for honesty, openness, and appreciation toward all people.

As creatives who design, but also as journalists who report on the proverbial boundless freedom and inventiveness of our craft, we want to lend our voice to these moving words. Communication helps to convey, clothes ideas in pictures, underlines free thinking, and contributes to mutual understanding. Our thoughts are with the Ukrainian people and all Russian citizens who reject war.

Slanted, form, PAGE, Grafikmagazin

Typeface by Kyiv*Type, Variable Superfamily