I felt hopeless and consumed by the horrific situation in the Ukraine, I felt that I had no way of helping them, I am not a politician, doctor, aid worker etc, and that no one was representing the horror specifically enough at that time. Ukraine Help Them was a direct, and my first, response in those first few days and weeks.

After this, I went on to develop ideas in a more simplistic way, or perhaps a more neutral way. Heart Ukraine and Ukraine Donate Now were some of the results. Still using the identifiable colours from the Ukraine flag with clear, clean icons representing love for the country, and therefore support. Also, with potential campaign ideas using the same graphic/united symbolism and a recognisable icon, to encourage and give permission to love and support, and hopefully much needed donation.

For Ukraine Help Them I wanted to find an image that was more like gritty realism, not hiding from the reality of war, the devastation of it. At the time (first few weeks of the war) all the images I was seeing felt too tame to me, it felt like everyone was skirting around the actual death of people, the barbarity of it, no one wanted to have this blood on their hands. I chose a stock image that was a building falling apart to show the Ukraine being destroyed and splatters of blood for the injury and death, I manipulated type in photoshop to look more like it had been drawn out of blood.

This was a reaction the the war and self initiated, I didn't have a client for this, I was free to represent my feelings as I saw fit.