A city-wide act of remembering
The Brief
Fifty years ago, the murder of Dr George Duncan shocked South Australia and ignited a movement that changed the law. But this anniversary wasn’t about a neat commemoration—it was about holding space. Space for grief that still lingers, long overdue recognition, and the unfinished fight for equality. The challenge was to create a design that could stand in that space—truthfully, respectfully, and without smoothing over the edges of history.
The work was for South Australia’s LGBTIQA+ communities—those who carry the memory, those who live its legacy, and those who have never been told this part of their history. It invited a connection between generations, and reached out to the broader public: allies, leaders, and cultural institutions. It asked everyone, regardless of where they stood, to witness, to listen, and to understand.
Design Direction, Brand Strategy, Art Direction, Typography, Graphic Design and Production.
The Solution
The goal was to create a living identity that didn’t just speak history but held it. Collage became the language—a way to layer truth through archival headlines, police records, and photographs chosen not for style, but for what they carried. The palette came from Don Dunstan’s famously defiant pink shorts: bold, unexpected, unapologetic. The design resisted nostalgia. It stayed with the complexity, the discomfort, and the care required to honour a painful past while inspiring a braver future.
This was more than a visual system—it was a city-wide act of remembering. The campaign lived in streets, galleries, and public gatherings. It brought people together for conversations, talks, and acts of solidarity. Design became witness, and story became action—transforming the anniversary into a moment of collective resilience. It sparked dialogue, deepened understanding, and reaffirmed South Australia’s role as both a reformer and a keeper of hard truths.
