Everyday Resistance is a project by the artist Jasleen Kaur for the Serpentine Gallery directed at new mothers who have recently moved to the UK. The project looked at creating spaces for these mothers to gather, commune and exchange through events and picnics as they are entering motherhood in a foreign context and sometimes challenging circumstances. From this came the idea to craft a toolkit and resource to help inform of the services and facilities available to them as well as personal stories and advices of mothers in the same situation.

At its core, Everyday Resistance embodies the spirit of friendship and solidarity, offering practical guidance and support for mothers facing unique challenges. The design of the toolkit seamlessly accommodates both Latin and Arabic scripts (as the majority of the group speaks Arabic), ensuring accessibility and inclusivity for all users.

Inspired by vintage Arabic layout designs found in magazines and posters, our design pays homage to the rich cultural heritage of the Arab world. It’s not easy moving to another country, let alone somewhere that is at time alien and hard to assimilate to your own culture. Add to that the reality of new parenthood and everything becomes a lot more complex. Within our design process it was important to us to develop a visual language that truly spoke to our audience. Through thoughtful typography and visual elements, we aimed to create a sense of familiarity and comfort, while honouring the resilience and strength of Arabic speaking mothers. The colour palette responds to the art pieces created by Jasleen in parallel with the toolkit.

Everyday Resistance is more than just a toolkit—it's a symbol of empowerment and community, offering a lifeline to women navigating the complexities of motherhood in difficult circumstances.

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