Week 02: Local Issues
Gather a range of pressing issues that are being discussed in your local area. Consider the forms of communication that are being used to raise awareness about these problems, what methods are working and what could be done better?
Week 02: Pressing issues - Engaging with the local community
Initial thoughts
More investigation work on local issues and a re-read of the brief and we’ve been encouraged to revert back to Module GDE710 Thoughts and Ideas, which is a good way to refresh how as designers, we can approach and generate a process for our critical ideas.
Initial Concepts - Creating ‘design change’ for a better living environment
Not knowing where to start I opened the sketchbook to make a mind map to concentrate on key local issues that I felt needed addressing.
Discover
As a designer, I am passionate about promoting the key local issues, which I feel will serve the community and benefit the area I live in. But how can I create an approach that will benefit these initiatives?
Concept 1 - Quarry cafe and community Fridge
This local charity distributes surplus food and makes meals for people struggling due to the cost of living crisis. It is open to anyone, to come and select food and make a donation.
Could a local initiative that addresses both food waste and socioeconomic challenges be the answer?
My focus could be on creating a product: infographics, zine, recipe cards or packaging for food parcels to highlight the transformative journey from surplus supermarket waste or ingredients to wholesome, nutritious meals repurposed back into the community. This embraces the full-circle initiative of community-conscious creative thinking, in taking something and repurposing it. It would appeal to the waste-adverse generation and environmentally friendly distributing into the community instead of landfill.
But is this considered to be a ‘subculture?’. Does this answer the brief? What is the ‘strong visual outcome’.
Conclusion: Discuss at tutorial on Monday. This might be a project that resurfaces at a later date? I love the thought of ‘designing for good’, but not sure if this answers the brief in the respect of an audience that are engaged in arts, design and culture.
Concept 2 - William Morris, Arts and Crafts movement
Standen House & Garden in East Grinstead was designed by Philip Webb, the house is one of the finest examples of Arts and Crafts workmanship, with the house displaying one of the largest collections of Morris & Co. décor anywhere.
Discover
As a National Trust property, this house is easily accessible with the most recognisable fabrics, wallpapers and tapestries that are stuffed to the rafters with all the patterns from his collections.
Deliver
Would my task be to put this in front of a new audience (Gen Z) with a modern twist? The initial collection was curated by being ‘inspired by nature’, could this be twisted into vibrant fluorescents for 2024 and a new generation?
Define Hmmm, what to do? My creation could be a Lookbook (big bold patterns reimagined) posters or a zine, (maybe too small?) showcasing the original designs but with a contemporary touch with bright colours for a new younger audience. It would be fantastic to trial screen printing (time pending).
Does this answer the brief? What is the ‘strong visual outcome’.
Conclusion: Yes, it covers the choice of constraints, yes to cover a field meaningful and interesting and with the local interests it would be easy to immerse myself in it. Yes, to the audience outcome and could be very inspirational for the subject I am exploring. To discuss at tutorial.
References
https://www.dezeen.com/2023/08/02/william-morris-football-kit-walthamstow-fc/
Fig. 1: Sketch pad updates
Fig. 2: Concept of Circlus
Fig. 3: William Morris. Arts and crafts movement.
Fig. 4: William Morris appealing to a new generation. Walthamstow football kit.Week 02: Workshop challenge -
Local issues
What is happening in my immediate community, and what prospects and pressing issues are being discussed locally?
This couldn’t have come at a better time, as on Saturday 27th January, all the local groups and representatives were congregating in the pub below me to advertise their local groups and volunteering opportunities. This was an ideal opportunity to identify the areas that needed support.
Sub header
Local Charity groups who need support
The 15th Century part of the High Street is blended with sympathetic colours and cliched Black letter style typefaces to emphasise the by gone era.
Fig. 1: All the local focus groups who need support meeting up under one roof!