Lecture to Future Police Officers on Symbols of Hate

On December 6th, I was giving a lecture on symbols of hate was held for 48 new police recruits in the Training Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Skopje, North Macedonia.

I was invited to come to the Center by invitation of the Assistant Minister of the Training Center, Mr. Vlatko Mitkovski.

During the lecture, I spoke about the importance of recognizing and understanding the meaning of the symbols of hate used by neo-Nazis, racists, and various hate groups, which bombard society daily through the Internet, street graffiti, and different sports fan groups. He explained how police officers, as part of their professional work, must learn to recognize these symbols and do everything in their power to stop the spread of these messages of hate and bring positive changes to the community.

It is hoped that the lecture had been beneficial and provided the attendees with valuable knowledge and new perspectives on the topic.

The event was organized by Vidi Vaka.

Lecture "Design Activism" in Skopje, North Macedonia

On December 5th, I gave a lecture on design and activism in front of more than 200 guests at the Faculty of Architecture in Skopje, North Macedonia. The lecture is part of my visit to Skopje, which accompanies the opening of the Tolerance Poster Show. My lecture was introduced by the Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Prof. Dr. Ognen Marina, and a speech was also given by the founder of Vidi Vaka, Goran Igić, who also organized these events.

Among the attendees were high school pupils from the School of Art and the gymnasium Orce Nikolov, deputy minister of Police, Mr. Vlatko Mitkovski, with teachers from the Police Academy, activists, representatives of the civic sector, Open Society Foundation, NDI and representatives of the design and comic books community.

During the two-hour lecture, which was followed by numerous questions from the audience, I spoke about activism in art, emphasizing the role of design. He shared his personal experiences and projects that connect art, design, and activism to address current global issues. 

The lecture highlighted the importance of designers taking responsibility for their work, advocating for social justice, and using their authority to raise awareness of key issues. All that sparked a long discussion about the ever-evolving role of design in shaping societal values and the power of visual communication.

Photos by Vidi Vaka.