Advocacy Symbols Guide

Why Symbols Matter in Advocacy

Advocacy symbols are not decorative — they are functional tools of communication. Movements use symbols because they allow meaning to travel quickly, across languages, literacy levels, and cultural contexts.

Symbols make a poster legible at a distance — and unforgettable up close.

Core Movement Symbols

Across movements, some symbols appear again and again because they are easy to draw, emotionally resonant, and structurally meaningful.

• Ramp symbol — accessibility, system redesign, mobility justice
• Fist — unity, shared struggle, collective power
• Castle / tower — cultural identity, continuity, protection
• Tools (wrench, hammer) — labour, solidarity, community repair
• Shamrocks — Irish identity, survival heritage, belonging
• Shields — safety, boundaries, standing ground

Each symbol does narrative work — it tells the viewer what the movement protects, challenges, or demands.

Cultural Symbolism

Movements often draw symbols from cultural stories, traditions, mythologies, and communal identities. These symbols:

• anchor the movement in a shared past,
• affirm belonging,
• signal continuity and survival,
• evoke emotional resonance beyond text.

Cultural symbols must be used with respect, accuracy, and understanding — they carry weight and history.

Design Principles for Symbol Use

The Movement Aesthetics Toolkit identifies design principles that make symbols effective:

• One symbol per poster — clarity always wins.
• High contrast — symbols should be recognisable from a distance.
• Simplicity — complexity dilutes urgency.
• Rootedness — symbols must come from the community, not clipart.
• Texture — the scarcity aesthetic increases emotional punch.

These principles keep advocacy posters bold, legible, and grounded in real movement work.

Download the Movement Aesthetics Toolkit

The full framework behind movement symbols and resistance design.