Dissent is an essential part of keeping democratic societies healthy. Our ability as citizens to voice our opinion is not only our privilege, it is also a responsibility. Without dialogue, the rights we have fought so desperately for could crumble.

Speaking out against tyranny and injustice has been one of the political roles that graphic artists have embraced throughout history. The advent of the printing press in the 15th century gave graphic artists the means to disseminate their ideas widely. Since that time, designers and artists have used their skills to communicate dissent, a task made easier with the advent of the internet which makes distributing posters and other printed materials much easier. 

The Design of Dissent examines graphic work that addresses social and political concerns in the United States and across the globe. The posters featured in this exhibition are drawn from two sources: an exhibition curated by graphic designers Milton Glaser and Mirko Ilic that compiles contemporary posters and printed materials designed to address injustices and the body of work commissioned and crowd-sourced by Amplifier.