Ruben Pater, Untold Stories
Mentor for the master projects in the MVD
Ruben Pater is a graphic designer at a moment in time when more design is the last thing the world needs. In search for ethical alternatives he designs, writes, and teaches. After working at graphic design studios he pursued a master degree at the Sandberg institute in Amsterdam. Since then he combines journalism, activism, and graphic design under the name Untold Stories to create visual narratives. He is the author of ‘The Politics of Design’ (2016) and ‘CAPS LOCK’ (2021).
In his practice, Ruben Pater departs from urgent communication questions towards degrowth, radical equality and solidarity. Rooted in both field work and theoretical research, the work adopts any medium or visual language necessary to inform the public. Questioning the language of luxury that dominates design, as well as the privileged class that is able to work in design, he explores tactics like direct action, scavenging, counterfeiting, and tactical media.
‘There is no such thing as a neutral education process. It either conforms students to the logic of the dominant system or becomes the practice of freedom, working towards the transformation of society.’ — Paulo Freire
