# Woman, Life, Freedom Protest Graphics (Iran and the Diaspora)

> Posters and digital graphics made in Iran and the diaspora after Mahsa (Jina) Amini died in morality-police custody in September 2022. The Kurdish slogan Jin, Jiyan, Azadî (Persian zan, zendegi, azadi: woman, life, freedom), lettered boldly in Persian, often fills the sheet; beside it women cut their hair, burn or brandish headscarves and raise fists, loose hair turns into flames, birds or calligraphic strokes, and the faces of Amini and others killed appear in flat colour. Shared as free files online, they were printed for rallies worldwide, while in Iran slogans went up on walls by night.

- Period: 2022–present
- Where: Middle East & North Africa, Global / networked
- Origin: Iran and the Iranian diaspora from September 2022. Mahsa (Jina) Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman, died in hospital on 16 September 2022 after her arrest by Tehran's morality police for 'inappropriate dress' (V&A), and the protests that followed took up the Kurdish women's movement's slogan Jin, Jiyan, Azadî, in Persian zan, zendegi, azadi, chanted at her funeral in Saqqez (Wikipedia). Inside Iran, protesters painted slogans such as 'Woman, life, freedom' on public walls at night, and sprayed graffiti that was mostly washed off or painted over by evening, beside murals of Amini and of others killed in the crackdown (RFE/RL, October 2022). Designers in Iran and abroad answered with hundreds of posters and digital graphics (RGD), as well as animated videos and stencils (Les Abattoirs). The Instagram platform Iranian Women of Graphic Design, started in autumn 2020 to show the work of Iranian women designers (Actipedia; CENL), became a protest platform that published submitted posters, some credited only to an anonymous designer from Iran or Tehran, and offered them as open-access downloads from a Google Drive folder for use 'online, on walls and in the streets worldwide' (It's Nice That, 2022). Diaspora designers such as Ghazal Foroutan in Southern California posted files on Instagram for anyone to print (V&A), and designers elsewhere made posters in solidarity, among them Borja Martínez in Spain (AGI) and Shweta Malhotra in India (D&AD). Museums collected and showed the work: the V&A through Rapid Response Collecting in late 2023, the Deutsches Buch- und Schriftmuseum in Leipzig, which showed a selection and is acquiring some (CENL), and a Paris initiative of four institutions that showed and distributed posters from the platform, also shown at Les Abattoirs in Toulouse (8 March 2023 – 25 August 2024)
- Branch: Counterculture
- Also known as: Zan, Zendegi, Azadi posters, Jin, Jiyan, Azadî graphics, #WomanLifeFreedom posters, Mahsa Amini protest posters
- Page: https://stylogeny.com/styles/woman-life-freedom-graphics/

## Use it with care

This is a living movement whose makers inside Iran work at real risk: the protests were met with deadly force and internet shutdowns, and some designers published by Iranian Women of Graphic Design are credited only as anonymous, so never attribute an unsigned poster to a person or expose anyone who made it. Mahsa (Jina) Amini and the other dead named on posters are real people, not a protest look. The slogan comes from the Kurdish women's movement and Amini was Kurdish, so credit Jin, Jiyan, Azadî rather than folding it into a Persian-only or generic 'Iran' brand. Flags are factional here: the Islamic Republic's flag stands for the state, the Pahlavi-era lion-and-sun flag is closely tied to the monarchist movement, and the plain tricolour and a Woman, Life, Freedom flag each have their own supporters (Ajam Media Collective), so add no flag unless the client asks for one. The posters oppose compulsory hijab, as Foroutan's 'no to compulsory hijab' tattoo says, not Muslim women who choose to cover, so never turn the removed headscarf into anti-Muslim imagery; keep the slogan, the hair-cutting gesture and the headscarf out of commercial campaigns, have every Persian or Kurdish line checked by a fluent reader, and never present a generated image as a work of the movement.

## How it works

- Put the three words at the centre: letter زن زندگی آزادی (zan, zendegi, azadi) boldly in Persian script, or the Kurdish original ژن ژیان ئازادی (Jin, Jiyan, Azadî) in Kurdish Arabic script, large enough to be the picture, and add 'Woman, Life, Freedom' in English for readers abroad.
- Make hair the motif: show a woman cutting her own hair, or draw loose strands and braids out into flames, birds or calligraphic strokes, and give the picture to women and their uncovered heads, or to the faces of Mahsa (Jina) Amini and others killed, such as Hadis Najafi, drawn in two or three flat colours.
- Turn the headscarf into the prop of defiance, held in a fist, burned or thrown up, and recast familiar icons in the same gesture, as Ghazal Foroutan's masked Rosie the Riveter grips her headscarf and wears 'no to compulsory hijab' as a tattoo.
- Keep to one figure or one phrase and two or three flat colours, so the image reads on a phone screen, prints cheaply on a risograph or a home printer, and can go onto a wall as a stencil or a painted slogan.
- Make the file to be given away: post it under #WomanLifeFreedom and #MahsaAmini, put it in an open-access archive for anyone to print, and let makers inside Iran stay anonymous.

## Its design choices

Defining choices make the style, characteristic ones are usual, occasional ones turn up now and then.

### Layout & composition
- [Isolated object](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/isolated-object/) (characteristic)
- [Central symmetry](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/central-symmetry/) (characteristic)
- [Framed panels](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/framed-panels/) (occasional)
- [Full bleed](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/full-bleed/) (occasional)

### Space & hierarchy
- [Single focal point](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/single-focal-point/) (defining)
- [Extreme scale contrast](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/extreme-scale-contrast/) (characteristic)
- [Repetition & rhythm](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/repetition-and-rhythm/) (occasional)
- [Generous white space](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/generous-white-space/) (occasional)

### Typography
- [Brush & pen calligraphy](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/brush-and-pen-calligraphy/) (defining)
- [Type as image](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/type-as-image/) (defining)
- [Hand-lettering](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/hand-lettering/) (characteristic)
- [All caps](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/all-caps/) (occasional)
- [Experimental & distorted](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/experimental-and-distorted/) (occasional)

### Colour
- [Limited spot colours](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/limited-spot-colours/) (characteristic)
- [Flat fields](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/flat-fields/) (characteristic)
- [Light ground](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/light-ground/) (occasional)
- [Complementary clash](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/complementary-clash/) (occasional)
- [Pastel](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/pastel/) (occasional)

### Form & shape
- [Stylised figuration](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/stylised-figuration/) (defining)
- [Whiplash line](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/whiplash-line/) (characteristic)
- [Biomorphic curves](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/biomorphic-curves/) (characteristic)
- [Pictogram](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/pictogram/) (occasional)
- [Naturalistic depiction](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/naturalistic-depiction/) (occasional)

### Surface & texture
- [Flat](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/flat/) (characteristic)
- [Grain & noise](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/grain-and-noise/) (occasional)
- [Painterly brushwork](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/painterly-brushwork/) (occasional)

### Ornament
- [Restrained accents](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/restrained-accents/) (characteristic)
- [Emblems & badges](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/emblems-and-badges/) (occasional)

### Imagery
- [Flat vector illustration](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/flat-vector-illustration/) (characteristic)
- [Line illustration](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/line-illustration/) (characteristic)
- [Typography only](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/typography-only/) (characteristic)
- [Found & vernacular imagery](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/found-and-vernacular-imagery/) (occasional)
- [Treated photography](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/treated-photography/) (occasional)

### Medium & production
- [Web & CSS](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/web-and-css/) (defining)
- [Pen, brush & ink](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/pen-brush-and-ink/) (characteristic)
- [Hand-painted](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/hand-painted/) (occasional)
- [Risograph](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/risograph/) (occasional)
- [Motion & broadcast](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/motion-and-broadcast/) (occasional)
- [Architecture & signage](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/architecture-and-signage/) (occasional)

### Tone & intent
- [Agitational & persuasive](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/agitational-and-persuasive/) (defining)
- [Rebellious & subversive](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/rebellious-and-subversive/) (defining)
- [Communal & popular](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/communal-and-popular/) (characteristic)
- [Romantic & sensual](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/romantic-and-sensual/) (occasional)

Avoids: Spiritual & sacred, Authoritative & institutional, Luxurious & glamorous, Abundant decoration, Horror vacui, Gloss & highlights, Chrome & 3D render

Palette: #f1eadb, #151515, #2c4fa3, #f28bb0, #f4c430, #c8102e

Typefaces: Bold Persian lettering for the three words زن زندگی آزادی (zan, zendegi, azadi), set at the centre of the sheet, as in Ghazal Foroutan's series, Persian calligraphy whose strokes are drawn out into strands of hair, flames or birds, Rough hand-lettering modelled on protesters' handmade placards, as in Studio Saber's documentation of slogans, An English line, 'Woman, Life, Freedom' or 'Women Life Freedom', beside the Persian for audiences abroad, The Kurdish original in Kurdish Arabic script, ژن ژیان ئازادی, or in Latin letters, Jin, Jiyan, Azadî

Known for: Ghazal Foroutan, 'Revolutionary Rosie the Riveter' ('The Persian Rosie', 2022), risograph posters in several colourways (blue on cream, pink and blue, yellow and blue, yellow, orange and blue): Rosie with heavy eyebrows, a mask over her face, her headscarf clasped in her fist and 'no to compulsory hijab' in Persian tattooed on her bicep; shared as a free download and carried at a rally in Trafalgar Square, London; acquired by the V&A through Rapid Response Collecting in late 2023 with the digital files (CD.29-2023 to CD.36-2023); Ghazal Foroutan, pink 'Women Life Freedom' flyer with black lettering and a 'Freedom, Life, Women' sticker (2022, V&A CD.2-2024 and CD.3-2024); Studio Saber (The Hague), 'Woman, Life, Freedom (Documentation of Slogans)', begun in September 2022: protest slogans in rough letterforms after protesters' placards, drawing on Iranian calligraphy and typography, mostly as diptychs that follow the two halves of a slogan, with three MP4 animations (Type Directors Club archive); Posters on the hair-cutting theme by Mojtaba Adibi, Mahdis Nikou and Or Yogev, and posters on the Evin prison fire of 16 October 2022, published by Iranian Women of Graphic Design (It's Nice That, 20 October 2022); Reza Zavvari, portraits of Mahsa Amini and Hadis Najafi (RGD, 2026); Manuela Fiori, a portrait of Mahsa Amini's face in only two graphic colours, likened to the Black Lives Matter posters for George Floyd (Dezeen, 5 October 2022); 'Women Life Freedom', a poster on the theme of being imprisoned or caged by hair, entered by Shweta Malhotra (India) for Iranian Women of Graphic Design (D&AD Awards archive, 2024); Borja Martínez (Lo Siento), 'Women, Life, Freedom' poster (2022, 100 × 70), a tribute to Mahsa Amini (AGI)

## Where it comes from, and what it’s close to

- Grew out of: [Iranian Modernist Graphic Design](https://stylogeny.com/styles/persian-modernism.md) (1960–present)
- Influenced by: [Cuban Revolutionary Poster (OSPAAAL & ICAIC)](https://stylogeny.com/styles/cuban-poster.md) (1960–1990)
- Influenced by: [Atelier Populaire (May '68 Screenprint Poster)](https://stylogeny.com/styles/atelier-populaire.md) (1968)
- Influenced by: [Risograph & Indie Print Culture](https://stylogeny.com/styles/risograph-indie.md) (2008–present)
- Alike in its design choices: [Sudanese Revolution Graphics (Digital Illustrations and Sit-in Murals)](https://stylogeny.com/styles/sudanese-revolution-graphics.md) (2018–present), 76% alike
- Alike in its design choices: [Turkish Modernist Poster & Graphic Design](https://stylogeny.com/styles/turkish-modernist-graphics.md) (1959–2000), 71% alike
- Alike in its design choices: [Palestinian Watermelon and Keffiyeh Graphics](https://stylogeny.com/styles/palestine-solidarity-graphics.md) (2021–present), 67% alike
- Alike in its design choices: [Chilean Unidad Popular & Nueva Canción Graphics](https://stylogeny.com/styles/chilean-unidad-popular.md) (1967–1973), 67% alike
- Alike in its design choices: [Ukrainian Wartime Graphics (Saint Javelin, War Stamps and Be Brave Like Ukraine)](https://stylogeny.com/styles/ukrainian-wartime-graphics.md) (2022–present), 67% alike
- Alike in its design choices: [Latin American Feminist Protest Graphics (Ni Una Menos and the Green Wave)](https://stylogeny.com/styles/marea-verde-graphics.md) (2015–present), 66% alike

## Sources

- Fuchsia Hart, 'Women, Life, Freedom, posters by Ghazal Foroutan', V&A blog (26 July 2024) (https://www.vam.ac.uk/blog/projects/women-life-freedom-posters-by-ghazal-foroutan)
- V&A collection records, Ghazal Foroutan, 'Revolutionary Rosie the Riveter', CD.29-2023 to CD.36-2023 (https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1735590/rosie-the-riveter-print-ghazal-foroutan; https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1735591/), and flyer CD.2-2024 (https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1778093/)
- Liz Gorny, 'Designers share open-access posters to amplify #WomenLifeFreedom protests in Iran and beyond', It's Nice That (20 October 2022) (https://www.itsnicethat.com/news/iranian-women-of-graphic-design-womanlifefreedom-creative-industry-201022)
- Armis Goodarzi, 'Designing dissent: a decade of protest posters from Iran', RGD (20 May 2026) (https://rgd.ca/articles/2026-designing-dissent-a-decade-of-protest-posters-from-iran)
- Type Directors Club, Studio Saber, 'Woman, Life, Freedom (Documentation of Slogans)' (https://tdc.org/?p=4051)
- AGI, Borja Martínez, 'Women, Life, Freedom' (2022) (https://a-g-i.org/design/women-life-freedom)
- D&AD Awards archive, Shweta Malhotra, 'Women Life Freedom' (2024) (https://dandad.org/awards/professional/2024/238176/women-life-freedom)
- Les Abattoirs, Musée – Frac Occitanie Toulouse, 'Femme Vie Liberté (Woman Life Freedom)' (8 March 2023 – 25 August 2024) (https://www.lesabattoirs.org/en/Exhibitions/femme-vie-liberte-woman-life-freedom/)
- Conference of European National Librarians, 'International Women's Day: a look at Iran' (Deutsches Buch- und Schriftmuseum, Leipzig) (https://www.cenl.org/?p=18693)
- Actipedia, 'Iranian Women of Graphic Design' (https://actipedia.mayfirst.org/node/13631)
- Wikipedia, 'Woman, Life, Freedom' (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woman,_Life,_Freedom)
- Golnaz Esfandiari, 'The Farda Briefing: As Crackdown Intensifies, Iranian Demonstrators Turn To Protest Art', RFE/RL (26 October 2022) (https://www.rferl.org/amp/farda-briefing-protests-street-art-missiles-university-battlegrounds/32101322.html)
- Jennifer Hahn, 'Designers share graphics in solidarity with Iranian women "fighting for their dignity"', Dezeen (5 October 2022) (https://www.dezeen.com/2022/10/05/iran-protest-graphics-mahsa-amini/)
- Alex Shams, 'The Battle Over Iran's Flag', Ajam Media Collective (9 July 2025) (https://ajammc.com/2025/07/09/battle-iran-flag/)

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From Stylogeny (https://stylogeny.com/), an atlas of graphic-design styles by Van Riel Online Services. How it is made: https://stylogeny.com/about/. Cite as: Stylogeny, “Woman, Life, Freedom Protest Graphics (Iran and the Diaspora)”, https://stylogeny.com/styles/woman-life-freedom-graphics/