Unicef uses Charlie Smith Design to celebrate diversity with book launch

Unicef Next Generation has just launched a collection of poems and stories with a brand identity designed to celebrate and reflect the diversity of the authors therein.

The book, Words By, was written by 138 authors from all walks of life, from sex workers and novelists to refugees and rappers. The identity was created by Charlie Smith Design.

The book and accompanying website came about as a result of members of Unicef Next Generation visiting refugee camps across Europe, which inspired them to publish stories by different people about their experiences, the charity said. “Through their words and on their terms, the collection finds beauty in differences and celebrates the similarities between human beings,” it added.

“We needed an agency that understood the importance of a simple and impactful brand that would beautifully represent the story we set out to tell,”Words By co-founder Bethany Gill commented.

Charlie Smith Design mapped out the content cover to cover, placing the purpose of the collection at the forefront of its design concept. The logo doubles as the book title and uses an underline device to create an open space that can be filled with the author’s name, their background or experience. novelist, refugee etc.

“To remove distinction between experienced and untrained writers, we deliberately left out the contributors’ surnames. This created a level platform for all voices to be heard equally whether refugee, recovering addict, migrant, sex worker, lawyer or author,” said Charlie Smith.

The colour palette of black, stone, and the bright orange that alludes to the life vests often worn by refugees on their often hazardous journeys, is designed as a visual connection to the content of the book and the experiences it contains while reinforcing the purpose of the overall identity.

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