Documentary on Rajie Cook, Designer of Ubiquitous DOT Symbols, Launches Kickstarter

Valentina Canavesio is in the process of creating a documentary centered on Roger Cook (1930–2021), originally named Rajie Cook, who, alongside Don Shanosky, developed the standard symbols for the U.S. Department of Transportation in 1974. After finishing initial filming, she initiated a Kickstarter campaign to secure funds for the final editing phase. The documentary delves into Cook's underappreciated contributions to graphic design, his Palestinian Christian background, and his transition to assemblage-box art that critiques the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Cook, renamed Roger by a New Jersey teacher, had his family name anglicized during British rule in Palestine. His reconnection with his heritage followed a visit to Palestine, honoring his father’s quest for peace. The film features interviews with Ellen Lupton, Tom Geismar, and Steven Heller, along with Cook's family, and includes audio of his father's journey from Ramallah to the U.S. Canavesio, motivated by a December 2023 Instagram post, aims to portray Palestinians in a more relatable light through Cook's narrative. The documentary also highlights Cook's design work, personal art pieces like "Processed for Peace," which lists children lost during the Second Intifada, and "Forbidden Colors," addressing the previous Israeli prohibition on Palestinian flag colors, as well as a student exhibition at Pratt Institute inspired by his legacy. There are over 50 hours of footage that still need editing.