The961 Foundation

Preface

Nothing is as fulfilling as designing for a cause and knowing that your designs are making a difference, even if minute. I was happy to collaborate with The961 Foundation to create up to 15 to 20 designs that could be sold as merchandise to raise funds to help people on the ground.

The 961 Shop

Designs for a NGO

The 961 Foundation is associated with "The 961". The main scope of the work was to prepare graphic design elements that could be used in a variety of gift shop items to raise funds through the foundation's "The 961 Shop". All proceeds from the purchases will go to help the Lebanese people.

Almost all of the Arabic-script designs feature a custom script that I had designed specifically for this project. These can be distinguished through their highly orthogonal and rectilinear forms.

Screenshot of the 961 Shop showing the online vendor and the designs on sale Screenshot of the 961 Shop showing the online vendor and the designs on sale
Screenschot of the 961 Shop showing the online vendor, and credits given to M.G Hachem, or well myself Screenschot of the 961 Shop showing the online vendor, and credits given to M.G Hachem, or well myself
open_in_new   Go to "The 961 Shop"

The Collection

Apparel

White T-shirt depicting a stylised Arabic text that translates as 'revolution'. White T-shirt depicting a stylised Arabic text that translates as 'revolution'.
Black T-shirt depicting a cedar shaped heart beat. Black T-shirt depicting a cedar shaped heart beat.
White T-shirt with a designed Arabic text stating 'Hela Ho' - a chant used in the protests. White T-shirt with a designed Arabic text stating 'Hela Ho' - a chant used in the protests.
White T-shirt with a designed Arabic text stating 'The Road is Closed, sweetie'. White T-shirt with a designed Arabic text stating 'The Road is Closed, sweetie'.
A black-tshirt with an English transliteration of the word 'Revolution'. A black-tshirt with an English transliteration of the word 'Revolution'.
A white t-shirt with a designed Arabic text saying 'Revolution'. A white t-shirt with a designed Arabic text saying 'Revolution'.
A white t-shirt with a designed Arabic text saying 'All of them means all of them' in color, a popular chant during the protests. A white t-shirt with a designed Arabic text saying 'All of them means all of them' in color, a popular chant during the protests.
A black t-shirt with designed Arabic text saying 'Lebanon Revolts'. A black t-shirt with designed Arabic text saying 'Lebanon Revolts'.
A white t-shirt with an illustration of pans with an Arabic text stating 'Revolution'. A white t-shirt with an illustration of pans with an Arabic text stating 'Revolution'.
A white t-shirt with a designed Arabic text saying 'All of them means all of them' in monotone, a popular chant during the protests. A white t-shirt with a designed Arabic text saying 'All of them means all of them' in monotone, a popular chant during the protests.
A black t-shirt with a designed Arabic text saying 'Ya Bey', a traditional Beiruti phrase. A black t-shirt with a designed Arabic text saying 'Ya Bey', a traditional Beiruti phrase.
A white t-shirt with a designed Arabic text saying 'From the Heart of Beirut'. A white t-shirt with a designed Arabic text saying 'From the Heart of Beirut'.
An illustration of a the woman who kicked off the revolution with a phrase saying 'The Revolution is a Woman' An illustration of a the woman who kicked off the revolution with a phrase saying 'The Revolution is a Woman'
A black t-shirt with a design inspired by the movie 'Straight Outta Crompton' as requested by the client. A black t-shirt with a design inspired by the movie 'Straight Outta Crompton' as requested by the client.
A baby's overall in white with an illustration depicting the Revolutionary Fist set up in Beirut's Martyr's Square. A baby's overall in white with an illustration depicting the Revolutionary Fist set up in Beirut's Martyr's Square.
A white t-shirt with text saying 'Revolt. Make Lebanon Great Again' as requested by the client. A white t-shirt with text saying 'Revolt. Make Lebanon Great Again' as requested by the client.
An illustration of the woman who kicked off the revolution in green, on a black tank-top with text saying 'The revolution is a woman'. An illustration of the woman who kicked off the revolution in green, on a black tank-top with text saying 'The revolution is a woman'.
A white t-shirt with designed Arabic text saying 'Mum we're going to collapse', with a response from the mother saying 'And who did I cook all this lentil for?'. This is part of a series that is perhaps better understood from a Lebanese perspective sense this phrase trended in Lebanon. A white t-shirt with designed Arabic text saying 'Mum we're going to collapse', with a response from the mother saying 'And who did I cook all this lentil for?'. This is part of a series that is perhaps better understood from a Lebanese perspective sense this phrase trended in Lebanon.
A white t-shirt with a designed Arabic text saying 'Beirut'. A white t-shirt with a designed Arabic text saying 'Beirut'.
A black t-shirt with a green cedar tree with text overlayed on top of it saying 'Reclaim Lebanon'. A black t-shirt with a green cedar tree with text overlayed on top of it saying 'Reclaim Lebanon'.
A white t-shirt with an illustration of a woman seen in the protests wearing an Islamic veil with a cross painted on her forehead. A white t-shirt with an illustration of a woman seen in the protests wearing an Islamic veil with a cross painted on her forehead.
White and Black Hoodies with text saying 'You don't scary me, my man (or lady) is Lebanese. White and Black Hoodies with text saying 'You don't scary me, my man (or lady) is Lebanese.
A white hoodie with western-styled text saying 'Technocrat' in technicolor. A white hoodie with western-styled text saying 'Technocrat' in technicolor.
A black hoodie with designed text saying 'Technipolitical Party' with 'Political striked out, in technicolor. A black hoodie with designed text saying 'Technipolitical Party' with 'Political striked out, in technicolor.
A beige t-shirt with text saying 'techno-gov' with an illustration of a DJ's mixer and technicolors radiating out of it. A beige t-shirt with text saying 'techno-gov' with an illustration of a DJ's mixer and technicolors radiating out of it.
A beige t-shirt with designed text saying 'Technipolitical Party' with 'Political striked out, and Party in technicolor as negative space. A beige t-shirt with designed text saying 'Technipolitical Party' with 'Political striked out, and Party in technicolor as negative space.
A beige t-shirt with the western-styled text creating a negative design cut out space on a ribbon of technicolors. A beige t-shirt with the western-styled text creating a negative design cut out space on a ribbon of technicolors.

Hats

Black Cap with Reclaim Lebanon written on top of a dark grey stitch of the cedar Black Cap with Reclaim Lebanon written on top of a dark grey stitch of the cedar
A white hat with 'Revolt - Make Lebanon Great Again' written on it, as requested by the client A white cap with 'Revolt - Make Lebanon Great Again' written on it, as requested by the client
A black cap with 'Make Lebanon Great Again' written on it, as requested by the client. A black cap with 'Make Lebanon Great Again' written on it, as requested by the client.

Accessories

An oyster colored tote bag with a designed Arabic text saying 'Beirut'. An oyster colored tote bag with a designed Arabic text saying 'Beirut'.
A black phone case with Reclaim Lebanon over layed over a grey cedar tree. A black phone case with Reclaim Lebanon over layed over a grey cedar tree.
A white draw bag with a designed arabic text saying 'Revolution'. A white draw bag with a designed arabic text saying 'Revolution'.

Mugs

A white mug with a design saying 'All of them means all of them'. A white mug with a design saying 'All of them means all of them'.
A white mug with a design saying 'Revolt - Make Lebanon Great Again' as requested by the client. A white mug with a design saying 'Revolt - Make Lebanon Great Again' as requested by the client.
White mug with a designed Arabic text design saying 'Beirut'. White mug with a designed Arabic text design saying 'Beirut'.

Final Thoughts

When you design for a cause, you aren't creating designs to be consumed and forgotten, but rather to generate awareness and attempt to mobilise the populace. You're indirectly creating a shared experience that may or may not translate on the ground.

I'll leave you with this question to ponder: Is a designer simply a person who creates graphics? Or a person that creates whatever they need to create in order to drive a message and act in a socially responsible manner? There is no right or wrong answer as the answer itself will depend on where you as an individual decide to draw the line.