In the frame of the Abolition of Slavery, marking the calendar this 19th of June, a new initiative to take a stand against hate through typography In the frame of the Abolition of Slavery, marking the calendar this 19th of June, three Students, Maria Carbonell Monrós, Chie Sato Aguilar, and Manuela Ponce de León, from the Master in Integral Creativity at Brother Barcelona, with the tutorship of Luis di Lascio, present a new initiative using design and code to take a stand against hate. In the last three years the use of the N-word –a polite way of referring to the very offensive word nigger (Cambridge Dictionary definition) – has been weaponized in deeply offensive ways. This word has become a tool for spreading hate, typed out casually, stripped of its history, its violence and its pain. #NotWithMyType is a campaign that asks a provocative question: What happens when creators take back control over how their work is used? It is a movement empowering the creative community to reclaim control over their typefaces. “Through an adjustment in code, we’ve made a small change with a big meaning: replacing the N-word with an asterisk in our typefaces.” stated creatives behind the work Maria Carbonell Monrós, Chie Sato Aguilar, and Manuela Ponce de León. “To spread the word, we created an online platform where users can also upload their typefaces and download a processed version of them, giving creatives the power to take a stand. If you want to spread hate, #NotWithMyType.” #NotWithMyType is the first online platform that invites designers, creatives and brands to join the movement and upload their own fonts and instantly download a modified version with one key difference: the N-word replaced automatically by an asterisk (*). WATCH THE VIDEO. The project surged as a response to this year’s New Blood D&AD Monotype brief, gaining international recognition by being recently awarded a Pencil – one of the most respected honours for emerging creatives worldwide. “Typography can’t remain neutral, that’s why we believe a small change in code can start a really meaningful conversation. As type designers, creatives, and brands, we have a chance to take back control. With this tool, you are able to upload your typography to the website and download it with a change in code that leaves no space for hate. Because while blocking a single word won’t erase racism, it can mark where we draw the line. And, more importantly, it opens up space for a larger conversation about our responsibility as creators, the silent power of design, and the urgent need to question what we normalise, ignore, or allow. We hope to spread the message as widely as possible, so that many will join the initiative.” stated Maria Carbonell Monrós, Chie Sato Aguilar, and Manuela Ponce de León.
