The series of "Act The Thought" newspaper-style publications were designed to form the central core of an exhibition with the same name, inaugurated in June 2024 at the headquarters of Fundação Livraria Lello, in the Monastery of Leça do Balio. Part of the curatorial program for "Act the Thought" included the presentation of 20 personalities, living or deceased, known for their fight for freedom of expression and their advocacy for a better world. The aim was to represent them, raising awareness about the threat of misinformation and the spread of fake news.
While designing the newspapers, we questioned and explored the possibility of form and content, medium and message, being able to articulate and emphasise the purpose and ambition of the project. We felt it was appropriate to evoke the format of the newspaper, a traditional medium, not as a nostalgic device but rather as a decelerator, encouraging a critical reflection on the current and historical role of the media.
We chose the newspaper format and explored the exclusive typeface designed by DSType, creating different layouts that, when appropriate, relate to the content: a chaotic and punk layout for the issue dedicated to Pussy Riot or contrasting font sizes for the issue dedicated to Malala Yousafzai, representing the strong power and reach of her voice at a young age.
In addition to the twenty issues corresponding to the personalities, another one was designed and produced, to serve as a program for the events.
Another intention in choosing the newspaper as a format related to the possibility of them being taken home by visitors. To this end, they were printed in large quantities and scenically displayed in the chapter house of the Monastery of Leça do Balio. In this way, the exhibition extends to other spaces and times, and its contents are transported to other contexts, expanding its reach.
