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InspirationGraphic Design

Beacon: A new design-led project to raise money for disaster relief efforts

Don’t you just love it when superb creative nous and doing good come together? A world where smashing illustration, design, and art and philanthropy collide is certainly one that we like to live in. Thankfully, we’ve got Beacon to help with that – a new design-led project to raise money for disaster relief efforts.

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Three monochrome art prints displayed side by side: left shows wavy white lines on black, centre features bold distressed lettering spelling SOS, right displays geometric wave patterns on dark background

The platform is the brainchild of Jason Dietrick from San Francisco-based independent design studio Upperquad, and takes the form of a collaborative website aiming to help “reflect on recent environmental disasters, create art amidst tragedy, and raise funds for the communities affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria, the humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico, the earthquake in Mexico City and the wildfires throughout Northern California,” Dietrich explains.

Creatives from across disciplines can donate their work, and those from across the world already have – including Mark Weaver, Kelsey Wroten, Richard Perez, Ricky Linn, Frederique Matti, Ty Wilkins, and many, many more. These are then sold online, with all proceeds going to the ]nonprofit organisation Direct Relief, which Dietrick tells us “specialises in emergency response and recovery, and is focused on delivering of short-term medical aid and long-term healthcare solutions in the affected areas.”

There’s a gorgeous selection of work online ranging hugely in style and approach - among are favorites are Mattiel Brown’s typography-led piece, the Bauhaus-esque stylings of Ty Wilkins, a a stunning surrealist sculpture snap by Midge Sinnaeve.

Those who don’t want a poster can donate online too, and if you’ve got a talent, why not contribute your art and bask in the warm glow of doing something nice.

Digitally manipulated portrait of a translucent head with layered photographic textures in green, pink and orange tones, with a circular eye motif, by Midge Sinnaeve
Vibrant abstract illustration by Kelsey Wroten featuring layered geometric shapes and dynamic brushstrokes in red, blue, orange and green on a turquoise background
Vibrant, layered illustration featuring stylised birds, fish and nature elements in bold reds, blues, oranges and greens with expressive brushstrokes and patterns
Collection of Beacon relief artwork including cityscape illustration with yellow sun, potted pink flowers, heart pattern, and abstract typographic designs on pink backgrounds
Geometric illustration in blue and orange showing emergency services including a helicopter, ambulance and fire truck alongside buildings, with white text reading "HOPE", "HELP" and "HEAL
Dark notebook with vibrant illustrated flowers in yellow, white, pink and red with green foliage on sage green background
Symmetrical floral pattern with colourful hand-drawn flowers in yellow, pink, red and white, green foliage, and decorative dots on dark background, text reading "no rain" at top and "no flowers" at bottom
Illustrated figures of diverse people collaborating around a large smartphone displaying a purple heart, surrounded by gardening tools, plants and design elements on a dark blue background
Book cover for When We Rise Again by Ricky Linn, featuring a large yellow sun and an orange and pink cityscape illustration against a vibrant purple background
Three artworks created for the Beacon disaster relief project: a collage with mountain and geometric forms, a typography piece reading "All together now", and an abstract geometric pattern in teal and white
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