USU Students Visit International Red Cross Headquarters
In a rare opportunity, students from Utah State University met with officials of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Geneva, Switzerland, this summer. The group of 24 students was participating in the art department's annual Utah State University Summer Design Program in Switzerland, a program headed by faculty member Robert Winward.
Winward is always on the lookout for unique educational experiences for the group participating in Utah State's Summer Design Program in Switzerland, now in its third year. The program is loaded with hands-on experience, intense study, travel and contact with industry insiders and corporate executives.
"So often the power of graphic symbols or logos is related to commercial business marketing," said Winward. "I wanted students to see and understand how much power a graphic symbol can have as a humanitarian tool."
"I contacted the ICRC public relations office at its international headquarters in Geneva and asked if they would be willing to meet with my students and discuss the usage, function and issues related to the emblems of the Red Cross," Winward said. "They were delighted to accommodate my request, because, although as a PR office it does presentations for many groups, oddly, it has never been asked to do a presentation about its symbols to graphic design students. As we know, the red cross symbol is key to the success of its mission."
Once the meeting was arranged, Winward and the students traveled to Geneva and were introduced to the Red Cross through a film that provided an overview of its mission and role. Following the film, Ian Piper, ICRC senior media relations officer, discussed two important uses of the Red Cross emblem.
The cross used by the organization is a Greek cross, with four arms of equal length.
It is an emblem for protective use, Piper told the Utah State group.
"In times of conflict, it constitutes the visible sign of protection conferred by the Geneva Conventions," he said. "It is meant to show combatants that people, including National Society volunteers, medical personnel and ICRC delegates, as well as medical units and means of transport, are protected by the Geneva Conventions and additional protocols."
The red cross is also a symbol of indicative use, usually during peacetime, he continued. Much like a logo, the red cross is used to show that a person or object is linked to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent movement. It then also becomes an invaluable symbol for development purposes.
"Ian also discussed many of the issues related to political, religious, historical and cultural biases related to symbols," Winward said. "As an example he cited Israel's unwillingness to use the Red Cross — the most common recognized symbol — nor the Red Crescent — used in Islamic cultures. Israel would like to use its own symbol."
If Israel uses an independent symbol, where does it stop, Piper asked the student group. Soon the Red Cross has a fractured identity. The organization is now discussing the possibility of creating an entirely new culturally, historically and politically neutral symbol.
According to the Red Cross Web site, although the red cross is not a religious symbol, some societies view it as such. The symbol of the red crescent is used instead of the red cross in societies in most Islamic countries; and the Magen David Adom, or Red Shield of David, is used in Israel.
Piper rhetorically asked the students to consider how they might design this new politically neutral symbol.
"It must be complex enough to be distinct, yet simple enough that a child soldier can scratch it in the dirt as a location for a medical helicopter to land," Piper said.
Next to speak to the students was Irene Schmid, deputy head of operations for western Africa. Schmid discussed the practical functions of a new symbol and managing its perceptions in hostile environments.
"Its message must be so simple and standard that it can be easily communicated to a Liberian child soldier," she said. "It must communicate that we are humanitarian, neutral, voluntary, independent and independently funded, as well as confidential."
Schmid also told the students the symbol's success has led to difficulty managing and protecting its use. She used as an example an incident where Liberian militants stole a Red Cross flag, attached it to a helicopter and were then able to enter a battle zone without resistance.
Now, the ICRC carefully inventories every decal, flag and magnet with the symbol on it.
Following the presentations, the Utah State group received a personally escorted tour of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum.
"The Utah State students were fortunate to have this experience, especially with individuals like Ian and Irene, who work at highest levels for the International Red Cross," Winward said. "This was a rich educational experience, and it was just one of many experiential research experiences students participated in during their month-long stay in Switzerland. It is a good example of the powerful learning experiences students can receive in an immersion study abroad program."
Contact: Robert Winward (435) 797-1394, winwardr@hass.usu.edu
Writer: Patrick Williams (435) 797-1354, patrick.williams@usu.edu
Photos: Robert Winward and Cassie Klingler
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