@abstractdesign

We are in the midst of a Pride Month unlike any other. Most of the parades and big events that traditionally mark the commemoration of the 1969 Stonewall riots—which signaled the beginning of the LGBTQ+ liberation movement—have been cancelled. But that won’t stop anyone, including us, from celebrating pride and the everlasting power of love, even in—especially in—the toughest times. The Abstract team is a huge fan of the single-most recognizable symbol of LGBTQ+ pride: the rainbow flag. Conceived in San Francisco by artist and gay rights activist Gilbert Baker in 1978, the original flag included eight colors—hot pink, red, orange, yellow, green, turquoise, blue, and violet. Hot pink was soon removed because the fabric color wasn’t easily available; turquoise was dropped to give the flag an even number of colors. It’s not just its worldwide recognition factor that we admire. We love what the palette symbolizes: a mixed LGBTQ+ community that works better when it harmonizes together. We utilized the same thinking when we conceived of the spectrum that infuses Abstract’s graphic design. We wanted to represent how the @netflix show would celebrate a wide range of crafts and disciplines, spotlight underrepresented communities and arts, and ultimately make fields more understandable and accessible to viewers no matter where they were watching from. Since the original rainbow flag was designed, variations in the spectrum have emerged to be more inclusive of BlPOC and trans queer people. Every version points to our adaptability, how we evolve and constantly redefine ourselves. And, in the case of this Pride Month, redefine what it means to connect in a virtual world. We embrace Pride Month with a heart full of hope—hope that real change will come from the urgent conversations and protests taking place around this country and the world; hope that those suffering from the coronavirus, whether they are sick or loved ones of those who are, will soon heal; and hope that Pride Month’s joyful credo—it is a human right to celebrate being who you are wherever you are—can reach every corner of the planet. Raise your flag high.