Mate Act Now

by Catherine Griffiths

Mate Act Now is a climate change “poster protest for the digital generation”, initiated by Aotearoa New Zealand designer Chris Flack earlier this year in response to the Australian bushfires. Over 100 posters made by designers worldwide protesting climate change and drive political action were launched online on Earth Day (April 22nd) to help raise awareness.

At Designers Speak (Up), we’ve picked out posters that speak acutely and intelligently to this important and urgent call by Mate Act Now (aka MAN) — to all people, not just your mate as it turns out — and are delighted to discover a good portion of our selection are by women/womxn/non-binary designers who took part in Present Tense : Wāhine Toi Aotearoa. We’ve included theirs, and others in the mix:

Inger Opie

Carol Green

Alice Murray

Amy Yalland

Phoebe Ellis

Caitlin Rassie

Caroline Konarkowska

Leah Surynt

Erin Joyce

Anushka Harrison

1) Inger Opie
2) Carol Green
3) Alice Murray
4) Amy Yalland
5) Phoebe Ellis
6) Caitlin Rassie
7) Caroline Konarkowska
8) Leah Surynt
9) Erin Joyce
10) Anushka Harrison

Amy Yalland

Milly Scott

Charlotte McCrae

Jef Wong

Seachange

Think Work Observe

StudioDBD

Matthew Galloway

Tana Mitchell

Janelle Rodrigues

1) Amy Yalland
2) Milly Scott
3) Charlotte McCrae
4) Jef Wong
5) Seachange
6) Think Work Observe
7) StudioDBD
8) Matthew Galloway
9) Tana Mitchell
10) Janelle Rodrigues

Wade and Leta

Laura Griffiths

Jarrid Berry

TypographHer

Jinki Cambronero

Dominic Hofstede

Kate Darby

Lauren Priestley

Erin Broughton

Kate Slavin

1) Wade and Leta
2) Laura Griffiths
3) Jarrid Berry
4) TypographHer
5) Jinki Cambronero
6) Dominic Hofstede
7) Kate Darby
8) Lauren Priestley
9) Erin Broughton
10) Kate Slavin

See the full collection online where they can be downloaded and shared for free. A limited edition publication is also available for purchase, with proceeds going to the Australian Bushfire Relief Fund.

“In these uncertain and unprecedented times, it’s powerful to know that the advertising and design community can come together to effect change,” Flack says. “We don’t want to take away from the enormous toll COVID-19 is taking on human health and the global economy, but the greatest long term threat to everything we hold dear is climate change. It’s important we don’t lose perspective of that and continue to do what we all can, with the skills we each possess, to tackle the climate crisis with the same willpower and global collaboration being displayed in the fight against COVID-19.”

The book includes a foreword from Jack Mussett, introduction from climate activist Adrien Taylor, and thought piece from Kevin Finn. Visit mateactnow.com to pre-order your limited edition copy.