spatial dynamics synthesizing forms- IKEA instructional abortion sticker Amy Coney Barrett’s recent Supreme Court confirmation as an associate justice was a ridiculous decision and ultimately, a huge loss for women and those who care about women and women’s rights. With suggestions of making abortion something that could be charged as a ‘murder’-- a decision that could ultimately lead to women being sentenced to death for getting an abortion-- it is an insanely scary time for women, as having autonomy and rights over our own bodies is now compromised and a topic that is up for debate. As a group, we chose to create a graphic that is based on these current events. We chose to have our graphic printed on bumper stickers, since they were the largest sticker format available on vistaprint, and we figured that stickers would last longer. We collaborated together with our varying degrees of experience with Adobe Illustrator and went through several drafts before landing on the final design. We wanted to take advantage of the long, linear format of the sticker and create a satirical IKEA “instructional” on how to DIY a clotheshanger abortion -- a method of abortion that has been used by women who do not have access to resources and safe abortion methods which is extremely dangerous and can result in hemorrhaging, infections and even worse consequences. We intended to create a very jarring visual that would be provocative and eye-catching. We then used text to give legitimate and helpful information including the NAF Hotline and hotline for Planned Parenthood as well as the link for Aid Access, a service that will provide the abortion pills to women and trans men that are within a certain frame of pregnancy through the mail, and are open and flexible to price negotiation. Our main statement lies in our text “PROTECT ROE V. WADE or this will be the new normal” as a message saying that this archaic and dangerous form of abortion may become the new norm if abortion and miscarraige treatments are no longer accessible and even criminalized. Why must women face the consequences for a conception produced by two people? Why must women have to risk their lives just to have some semblance of independence and autonomy? Do we as a society love our women, when we deprive her of the ability to make decisions or when we antagonize her when she makes decisions so she can live a better life? Do we love our women when we tell her her life does not matter as much as a non existent being? These are all questions that I think about. Yes, ACB may be a woman, but regardless her beliefs and plans contribute to the toxic patriarchy that steps on the necks of women’s rights. This sticker is something that resonates with me personally and I enjoyed working on it with my group.
