The One Club launches new ‘WE ARE ONE’ initiative to rally creatives against racism and intolerance

The One Club for Creativity is taking a significant step to advance its creative activism efforts with the launch of WE ARE ONE, a new initiative rallying creatives to take a collective stand against racism and intolerance, and use their unique talents to spread that message to the world.

Brought on by recent increases in discrimination, hostility and violence against Asians and Pacific Islanders spurred on by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as last year’s killing of George Floyd and subsequent rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, WE ARE ONE provides creatives with a way to come together in the fight against racism and intolerance, and a platform to bring inspiring anti-hate messaging to the general public.

The program asks creatives around the world to develop poster images that communicate anti-hate messages, using a supplied template.

After a selection committee made up of The One Club Board members Keith Cartwright, president/CCO, Cartwright; Judy John, global chief creative director, Edelman; Pum Lefebure, cofounder/CCO, Design Army; Philippe Meunier, cofounder/CCO, Sid Lee; and Robert Wong, cofounder, Google Creative Lab reviews the submissions, the work will be showcased on the organization’s website, social media channels and in email newsletters, reaching the club’s more than 400,000 global constituents.

In addition, The One Club has partnered on the program with OUTFRONT Media, one of the world’s largest out of home media companies. OUTFRONT has committed to featuring a select number of submissions on digital billboards around the US to raise awareness among the general public and inspire others to play an active role in the fight against hate.

Deadline for the first round of submissions is June 18, 2021, specs can be found on the WE ARE ONE website.  Work will be reviewed and displayed online shortly thereafter, and OUTFRONT will display the first selection of the designs on billboards, transit shelters and other OOH media at the end of June.

Says Design Army’s Pum Lefebure, who was instrumental in leading the project: “Creativity can change the world. WE ARE ONE is an important, urgent call to the creative community to come together as allies, and use our voice, influence and unique skills to take a stand and tell this crucial message to the world.”

Says Kevin Swanepoel, CEO, The One Club: “Creative activism is a part of The One Club’s DNA. WE ARE ONE is in line with our mission to support the global creative community, and take action to promote diversity, equity and inclusion.”

Says Eddy Herty, VP, national creative director, OUTFRONT STUDIOS: “Anytime even one of our canvases can be used to speak love and visually inspire someone with a positive uplifting message, we’re all for it. Having the opportunity to collaborate with an organization like The One Club, a group dedicated to creative excellence and where creatives from around the world are encouraged to use their gifts and talents for good, is invaluable as it aligns perfectly with OUTFRONT’s purpose, to help people, places and business grow stronger.”

WE ARE ONE is the latest example of The One Club’s ongoing global nonprofit commitment to pushing diversity, equity and inclusion forward in advertising and design.

The effort began more than a decade ago when the organization started its annual Where Are All The Black People diversity conference and career fair, and continued with its global Creative Boot Camps and mentorship programs for diverse college students and other young creatives.

Last year, the club launched ONE School, a groundbreaking free portfolio program for Black creatives now active in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York.  The program brought 30 new Black creatives into the industry in its first cohort, and will add another 120 with Spring and Fall sessions in 2021.

Recently as part of this year’s global awards, the club also announced the creation of The One Show Fusion Pencil and ADC Annual Awards Fusion Cube, the industry’s first global awards to recognize diversity, equity and inclusion in both the content of the work and the teams that made it.