October 14 2023, marked the date of Australia’s referendum on Voice to Parliament. The Voice to Parliament would have recognised our First People in the Constitution and provided an official platform for our First People to advise, consult, and contribute to policies directly impacting their lives. It was a meaningful first step, supported by over eighty per cent of First People, but sadly, the YES vote failed to get either of the two majorities in favour that were both required for the Constitution to be changed.

The design process began with research into the Voice to Parliament and the focus on self-determination. The typography has a default feel, presenting the format as a sequence of steps and key concepts that need to be communicated. The layout required the reader to lean into the image and do some of the heavy lifting. There is a deliberate tension between the positive impact of a yes vote and the fragile nature of the building blocks, which are at risk of falling down.

Voting YES would have provided a tangible step in honouring their calls for meaningful dialogue and empowerment. Clear created our poster to support the YES campaign and to express the importance of a call for change.