Transformers Foundation report
Published November 2022
I was commissioned by Transformers United to art direct their 2022 report called 'Fashion's chemical certification complex', which outlines the ineffective system for chemical management in the fashion industry. Images created with a cyanotype printing process.
Thanks to Amy Carmann for her support on this project.
Read the full report here.
Crafting imagery with a chemical process
The images in this report are created with cyanotype, a photographic printing process developed with exposure to sunlight. As they developed, the cyanotypes slowly revealed images of the denim manufacturing process in a blue wash that nods to the indigo dyes of denim and the murky landscape of chemical certifications. I wanted to give the report a sense of craft and process, honouring the work of the people who make our denim.
The blue marbling effect on the front cover evokes polluted wastewater, one of the environmental hazards of the textile industry. The twists and flicks of marbling is mirrored in the headline font, and the acidic green feels toxic and calls for attention.
"Figuring out what the report should visually look and feel like was intimidating for me and far out of my comfort zone. Heather made the process smooth and clear - I knew I could rely on her to deliver things on time. Oh, and of course it goes without saying: the report is stunning!."
KIM VAN DER WEERD
Intelligence Director, Transformers Foundation