Thomas Porostocky’s (MFAD ’05) “We Need More Party Animals” artwork, produced while a student, was chosen by Milton Glaser and Mirko Ilic for a 2005 exhibit called “Design of Dissent,” which was later published in book of the same name. It was also featured in Good magazine, and is used by More Party Animals, an “apolitically-political idea born out of a heartfelt disenchantment with the status quo.” It is also used by the new political party “No Labels.” Prostocky says he was never contacted for permission.

“I just found about this a few minutes ago,” he told The Gothamist, “so to be honest, I’m still a little stunned at the blatant plagiarism. I hadn’t been aware of No Labels prior to today, so needless to say they have definitely not reached out in any way. Considering the names they have on their speaker list (Bloomberg, Gillibrand et al), this clearly isn’t just a simple mom and pop operation, so there really is no excuse for this. There are plenty of politically aware artists out there who they could’ve reached out to in a legitimate (and well, legal) fashion to create something original. There was no need to make a trip down to the Canal Street of ideas.”

The No Label image is not just similar, it is a direct rip-off.

Read more here.

(Top “No Labels” shirt; bottom Original by Porostocky.)