Don’t Be A Spreader
Emphasizing the importance of personal space and boundaries on public transportation in Berlin.
2019 – 2021
Graphic Design
Scope
Personal project for the exhibiton »Gratwanderung. Zwischen (un)sichtbaren Grenzen«
Roles
Concept
Design
Exhibiton
Tools
Illustrator
Premiere Pro
After Effects
Partners
Kunstform Wissenschaft
studierendenWERK Berlin
Intro
Public transportation brings us close to our destinations, and it also brings us closer to other people — closer than we would like. Many of those who use buses and trains experience clear violations of the boundaries between people. Inappropriate remarks, intrusive glances, too close a proximity and, last but not least, the sight of men’s legs spread wide trigger discomfort and even a feeling of harassment.
The »Don't Be A Spreader« project now counters the phenomenon of »manspreading«, a term that has been used since 2014 to describe this very male attitude in public spaces. The stickers were designed in the typical corporate design of BVG and are intended to create awareness for personal space in public transport and to have a lasting effect on detrimental behavior.
The Stickers
The vegan stickers show a person sitting with legs spread wide, with a big red bar diagonally across. People in Berlin understand that these stickers are not taken seriously and only symbolize a preferred behavior. The stickers should not direct people to sit in a particular position. Instead, they should emphasize the importance of personal space in public areas.
The history behind it
Moving to Berlin in 2019, I found myself constantly surrounded by a large number of people. This was especially noticeable in public spaces, where limited space made it tight. One thing that caught my attention was the inappropriate way many men were sitting, with their legs wide apart. This not only emitted negative energy but also occupied valuable space, making it difficult for others to sit without getting too close and feeling uncomfortable. Almost everyone in the wagon notices those people, but hardly anyone speaks up. This led to the idea of creating stickers to raise awareness and emphasize the importance of personal space in public transport.
Exhibition
The project was part of the »Gratwanderung. Zwischen (un)sichtbaren Grenzen« exhibition in May 2021.
The Result
vegan stickers
dimensions: 70 x 70 mm
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Don’t Be A Spreader
Emphasizing the importance of personal space and boundaries on public transportation in Berlin.
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