The Rules of War: A Stirring Poster Series

Designer Mirna Noaman's Award-Winning Work Marries International Humanitarian Law and Islam

What sets Noaman's design apart is its clever use of negative space to illustrate conceptual ideas about the rules of restraint in conflict. The brief required the avoidance of colors, shapes, or figures that could potentially point fingers at any sides of a conflict. Noaman's solution was to use a neutral but powerful image, resulting in a series of posters that are as impactful as they are respectful.

Created using iPad Pro, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Illustrator, these posters are designed to live both in printed and digital form. On social media platforms belonging to the Red Cross, the posters have garnered significant relevance and have been widely shared, with audiences supporting the messages of peace and promoting humanitarian values.

The project, which was completed in May 2019 in Cairo, Egypt, required extensive research. Noaman and her team observed the perception of the Red Cross in the Arab region amongst Muslim countries and identified a skepticism towards the organization. The team then conducted research on the similarities between International Humanitarian Law and the Quran, identifying four clear themes to be visualized.

The biggest challenge faced by Noaman was creating visuals for a neutral and impartial organization whose communication work directly affects its ability to access certain regions. However, the resulting poster series successfully communicates the teachings of International Humanitarian Law in a manner relevant to vulnerable communities, further spreading awareness about it.

The design, which won the Silver A' Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design Award in 2020, is a testament to Noaman's creativity and professional expertise. The award recognizes top-of-the-line, creative, and professionally remarkable designs that illustrate outstanding expertise and innovation. Noaman's design, which introduces positive feelings, amazement, and wonder, is indeed a remarkable level of excellence.