Graphics, Layout, Color can be tweaked

Hey everybody, I am sorry I didn't make it to class, but here are the ad designs.

So, I could tweak a couple of things on the cards, that need re-working, or we could send them to Jan's contact. He could edit them, or scrap them altogether. The print shops I am talking to have a turnaround of 24 hours or less. I can have them printed tonight/tomorrow. I would gladly post them around the school tomorrow, or over the break.

COMING SOON....

Brainstorm of ideas for my project and arguments against fair trade.

After MUCH reading & MANY trips to dictionary.com, I now give you "Fair Trade in My Own Words"

Defined:
The social movement of fair trade is a concept applied to business relations, transactions, working conditions, etc in agriculture and manufacturing. Basically, the parties involved come together for trade in a way that meets certain demands of all parties. From what I can see, the main parties involved are:
1) end-user: public or consumer (mainly those involve in advocacy groups)
2) Seller/Distributor: businesses, corporations
3) Maker: farmer/manufacturer

Interdisciplinary Approach:
Fair trade encompasses issues raised in many areas of study including globalization, agribusiness, political consumerism, health and safety, environmental protection, sustainable materials/production, international relations, gender equality, child labor, and the mind-bender—world economics. (I think I will take an economics class next semester!!!)

Power of the Consumer:
In this era of globalization, consumers want to be guilt-free about consuming. The advocacy of buyers has prompted corporations to be more mindful of their products’ life cycle. The public wants to be assured no one is hurt before and after the product comes into their hands. This is due to the average joe’s growing awareness of his buying power. In other words, people are realizing that their dollars may be supporting agendas that conflict with his/her core values (political consumerism).

The Seller & Product:
As mentioned before, fair trade addresses all parties involved in the making, selling and purchasing of a product. So far, this practice has been applied to such widely used products as coffee, tea, chocolate, fruits and vegetables.
Fair trade is now becoming more “mainstream” because corporations are starting to advertise their participation. Considering which ones are doing this leads me to believe that fair trade is likely being used to clean up public perception of their brands. Another reason sellers are getting involved is because many consumers are willing to pay more for products that make them feel better about themselves. Regardless of consumer and corporate motives, the social movement benefits because corporations with household names (such as Walmart, Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, McDonalds) using fair trade products will actually shine more light on the practice of fair trade. Hopefully, this will prompt more consumers to ask: What is fair trade? How can I buy more fair trade products?

"Strike That--Reverse It..." Project #2: Fair Trade

Did everyone get the Willie Wonka reference, above? ;o)

I am researching fair trade because it is one of many interesting “social movements” I know nothing about. More importantly, it treats the earth and people, including women and children, with fairness. (This flows with my interest in the abolishment of modern day slavery). Third, I believe that buying and using products from a fair trade system is a socially responsible practice that I may want to integrate into my life.

Project #2: Freedom of Information

So, during project one, I noticed that it was really hard to get a message out to the Towson community. We all know that worthy events and causes can pop up at the last minute. Many barriers exist to broadcasting a message:

1) Not enough time or money to take out an ad in the community papers.
2) Can’t post signs on walls, because the tape could ruin the paint job.
3) Can’t post on windows or glass because someone has to clean up the glass.
4) If you are not an official club, it's "illegal" to post anyway.

I’ve been brainstorming ways to help people get their message out. I thought about rigging up an overhead projector/slide projector to put signs/pictures on blank walls. This would cut down on paper and printing, as well as alleviate the need to clean up any tape, but it costs over &150 to buy an "overhead." I also thought about getting schools to donate, but what if they still use them. I need a cheap solution that I can build myself. I’ve been searching Make, Instructables, etc and have a lead on a type of electric sign. After discovering “throwies”
http://www.instructables.com/id/LED-Throwies/ and
Persistance of Vision http://www.instructables.com/id/MiniPOV3-Kit/ , I think this may be the direction will take my project.
A POV projector for the Art Building. See http://www.instructables.com/id/MiniPOV3-Kit/
I think I will somehow build a prototype based on this concept.

New York, New York!!!

During our trip to New York, we visited the Cooper Hewitt Museum and its exhibit, "Design for the Other 90%." I was encouraged to see how many designers are working on products to improve the conditions of this earth; especially those employing smart design, sustainable resources, and upcycling (a practice discussed in Cradle 2 Cradle). As we walked the streets of New York, we stumbled across a street fair. One vendor upcycled a window screen into a jewelry display. Beyond its upcyling benefits (consuming less, low cost, less landfill) it allows light into the tiny, dark booth, and helps the vendor to watch which products people are most interested in, without hanging over their shoulder. Security is an added benefit.

I'm Coming Around

[image source: worldbike]
Since 9-11 and starting college, I began to pay more attention to the media. I noticed the reoccurrence of certain terms or themes loosely describing Americans as “ethnocentric, capitalist, world-policing monster-consumers who are so busy over-populating the planet’s fattest nation and one-upping a neighbor’s credit-purchased idiot box, that they’ve overlooked the toxic landfill’s avalanche of Starbucks cups which buried their prized McMansion.”

Did I cover all the categories? Oopsie, I forgot to reference school shootings and the Katrina debacle. OK, so I am exaggerating a little. I don’t intend any disrespect to the aforementioned trends and events. I’m just slightly discouraged by my observation of what fills the air waves and internet. My limited experience with blogs seemed to bolster this observation. I thought blogs were just digital ranting--full of opinion and emotion. This didn't sit well with my background of fact-focused writing for the high school newspaper.

Until recently, my life’s struggles and a depressing stream of news coverage had slanted me toward skepticism and pessimism. Since starting the Social Design class, I am freshly encouraged. Both research and a well-chosen reading list have given me a new perspective. In fact, after some resistance to the blog concept, my professor and a fellow student said, “Maybe you’re reading the wrong blogs.” Needless to say, I've been won over. What an effective tool for sharing ideas and information.

Also, this weekend’s visit to the Cooper Hewitt Design Museum in New York has shown me tangible examples of hope. “Design for the Other 90 Percent” highlighted the work of designers enriching the lives of those who “have little or no access to most of the products and services many of us take for granted.” (See:

http://other90.cooperhewitt.org/about/) I will discuss this topic in greater detail after some much needed sleep.

Who owns your news source?

Find out at: http://www.cjr.org/resources/

Focus

This blog is associated with a Social Design class I am currently taking (Fall '07). I would like to use this medium to highlight social issues that weigh heavy on my heart. As I find informative and inspirational links, I'll add (and try to) organize them.

Welcome Mat

To all who cross this threshold: May you receive a big portion of Southern hospitality!