Showcased is a poster series for the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH), speaking out against hostile architecture in cities. This project was created during the Design Two course, where the brief was to create a poster or poster series relating to a cause or organization of your choosing. The task required conducting research to develop and copy-write an effective brief for the selected cause.

 

The National Alliance to End Homelessness, as the name suggests, is a nationwide organization dedicated to addressing the issues of homelessness. They are a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that works with local and federal partners to provide resources and solutions for both communities and the nation. Hostile architecture, in contrast, actively deters homeless people from existing in public spaces, often through physical means like spikes, benches with armrests, or sloped surfaces. It paints these individuals as undesirable and expendable. The objective of this poster series is to inform and enlighten the public about the negative impacts of hostile architecture for all parties involved. Not only is it physically unattractive, but it is also inhumane, exacerbating the issue of homelessness instead of promoting sustainable, long-term solutions.

 

In my research, I was inspired by the brutalist architectural style and minimalistic color schemes, which reflect the cold, unwelcoming nature of hostile architecture. The harsh forms of this style influenced my sketches, with sharp points jutting out, repeating fence links, and spikes guiding the viewer's eye across the spread. This design approach mirrors the hostile, oppressive feeling these architectural elements evoke, while also encouraging reflection on the deeper social issues they represent.