Why anti-racism is the next standard for brand activism
REPORT
2 Jul 2020
Why anti-racism is the next standard for brand activism

The death of George Floyd and ensuing protests saw companies worldwide attempt to address systemic racism in their messaging – though many faced a tide of consumer cynicism. Semiotics expert Chris Arning explains how brands can meaningfully show their commitment to anti-racist action.

Chris Arning

Chris Arning specialises in semiotics and cultural insight, boasting 20 years of experience working as a planner, qualitative researcher, and commercial semiotician. He has worked for clients such as Radio Centre, BMW Mini, GSK, UKTI, and the BBC, and is the co-founder of Semiofest, a celebration of semiotic thinking.

India Doyle

India Doyle is the editorial director of Canvas8's Library. She oversees the editorial direction of research across content types to ensure Canvas8 members understand changes in consumer behaviour and culture and the opportunities around behavioural change. India has worked as a journalist for ten years, interviewing industry and cultural leaders including Christy Turlington, Olympic boxer Ramla Ali, and Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös. She has contributed to SHOWStudio, Dazed and Confused, ekathimerini, Wonderland, and Dapper Dan magazine.