British charity Refugee Council was suffering from a literal identity crisis: many citizens did not even know the organization existed, even though it had been providing services since right after WWII. Exacerbating the situation is that refugees and their rights have become extremely divisive political topics in the UK as well as around the world.
Shape History took on the challenge of bringing refugees and British citizens together, through visuals and language, in a new brand built on the concept of “grit and grace.” In fact, the design team created a new linocut typeface called Grit and Grace.
Linotype printing became the central visual metaphor for the new brand. Refugees created art that illustrated their experiences, and this art was added to a bank of lino art created by the design team. The style of the linocut work brings out the fact that a refugee’s life can be tough and roughly hewn, but can turn out beautifully, with Britons’ and the Councils’ help.
