A design grad tackles the Scottish independence referendum debates

Not only is it refreshing to see a grad project that eschews the debate over whether or not print is dead, but it’s also great to see a young designer so politically engaged. It’s especially good when the work looks like that of Steph Roden, whose Adder Stone project manages to combine considered design with a lively, yet impartial look at the debates around the Scottish referendum for independence. Taking the form of a proposed biannual magazine, Adder Stone examines four questions per issue, each from a different source, and all relating to Scotland. As well as these catalysts for political exploration, there are also four pull-out posters, referencing the Yes and No posters seen everywhere around Scotland in the buildup to the referendum.

“Instead of giving definitive answers, the posters ask questions and generate discussion,” says Steph. “Though the country was split down the middle in terms of opinion, this newfound lack of apathy was strangely uniting. Adder Stone … seeks to help sustain interest in topics such as society, politics, and cultural identity. The magazine doesn’t wish to provide any absolute answers, nor align itself with any particular political standing; it merely seeks to present ideas.”