It has been a few weeks since we first shared news of the Occupied Times launch and since then much has happened to the global Occupy movement and the London Occupied Times. In New York, there have been clashes with police and mass arrests after protesters marched in support of Occupy Wall Street. In London, the Corporation of London has begun formal legal proceedings and have served eviction notices to the remaining protesters outside St Paul’s Cathedral. This morning, protesters have taken over an empty office block in Hackney belonging to the bank UBS.

It is with this backdrop that the Occupied Times have been working to give an unofficial printed voice to Occupy London. Issue three was launched to coincide with the student tuition fees march on November 9, which was accompanied by some friendly policing. The fourth issue, launched this Wednesday, was printed on ‘salmon’ pink paper with obvious reference to the Financial Times.

Four issues in and the paper is gaining publicity and provoking debate about the nature of protest graphics. Our original post was which was shared on the Creative Review blog and since then OT has received much coverage, including Dazed and Confused, the Huffington Post and in an interview with Jamie Reid.

We think that The Occupied Times team are doing a great job of producing a weekly paper in difficult conditions by striking a good balance between radical protest graphics and the visual language of news media. With interesting, opinionated content, The Occupied Times is a great forum for ideas and debate and we wish it every success. You can download the latest edition on the Occupied Times website.

All images courtesy of Tzortzis Rallis.

On the day Rev Dr Giles Fraser (The canon chancellor of St Paul’s Cathedral) resigned over plans to forcibly remove Occupy London protesters from outside the cathedral, we have also learnt about last night’s launch of The Occupied Times of London, the newspaper of Occupy London. Issue one of what promises to be a weekly paper was handed out on the steps of St. Paul. If you aren’t able to make it to the protest you can download a pdf copy on the Occupied Times website.

The newspaper has been produced by a large editorial team from Indy Media and designed by friend of the studio Tzortzis Rallis and Lazaros Kakoulidis. Note the use of VirusFonts typeface, Bastard. We think it is a rather apt choice of typeface, considering the ideology of the typeface: the reinterpretation of blackletter semiotics and insinuation that multinational corporations are akin to the new fascists.

Many thanks to Tzortzis for sending us these photos.

Following our recent post about Designers for Japan, our poster submission is now available to buy from Print-Process.

Inspired by the Japanese art of paper marbling: Suminagashi (meaning: floating ink). The design juxtaposes contrasting visual forms – the natural, organic process of ink moving on water and a ruptured digital structure created with code. Symbolic of landscape, transition and spirituality – and of the power/beauty of nature.

The print can be purchased from Print-Process. All profits from sales will go to The Red Cross and Shelterbox.

Like most people we were horrified by the effects of the earthquake and tsunami on northern Japan. As a studio we have particularly strong links with Japan – many of our clients are Japanese – and we felt compelled to do something to help. We have joined forces with a number of other designers to form Designers for Japan, with an aim of aiding relief efforts and expressing our love and respect for our friends and colleagues in Japan. At the moment that means selling of prints and sending the proceeds to organisations like the Red Cross, but in future, it could become something else. Designers for Japan is intended to be an open, collaborative project; there are many ways to get involved and if you feel that there are better ways that we can help, you can suggest those too.

More information can be found on the Designers for Japan website.

To donate to the Japan Tsunami Appeal, visit the Red Cross website.

Designers For Japan is: Jonathan Barnbrook, Mark Blamire, Neville Brody, Patrick Burgoyne, Rei Inamoto, Gavin Lucas and Graham Wood. A full list of contributing artists can be found on the Designers for Japan website.

In today’s world, protest goes beyond borders. We should use our legitimate right to stand up for democracy and freedom of speech. Remember Tibet is where you as a graphic designer, writer, filmmaker or artist come in. Rather than selling stuff, let’s give the creative arts an active role in raising awareness and forcing an issue onto the mainstream political agenda.

The first piece of artwork is an animated film by Jonathan Barnbrook which aims to tell people why they should protest in support of Tibetan Independence. If you are interested in contributing go to www.remembertibet.org

go to save shoreditch for more details