Rietlanden Women’s Office produces a lot of self-initiated work such as the publication series Ms. Heresies that deals with collaborative graphic design practices and ‘the ornament as a form of work criticism’. RWO’s work focuses on critical and social themes such as feminism and social justice. Their designs are not commercial in nature and rather focus on the exploration of political and cultural ideas, gaining prestige within the cultural elite: they are valued in academic and cultural circles for their complexity and social relevance. RWO uses a tactile, manual or artisanal style, which emphasises a sense of community orientation and accessibility. The rough finish and sometimes unconventional use of typography and imagery make a visual statement against the polished, commercial aesthetic of the mainstream.
