seeking collaborators for spring 2013

the new programme is undergoing exciting growth and change to re-focus exclusively on social change projects and incorporate student collaborators as active participants in that process. 

the new programme’s freshly revised mission is to utilize the power of visual communication and design thinking to create positive social change for underserved voices that seek to increase health, education, sustainability, and civic participation in their kansas city communities.

the new programme is intended to function as a kind of laboratory space to explore: 

• how visual communication can affect or create positive behaviors
• how graphic design processes and artifacts can best be leveraged in a non-commercial capacity
• how graphic design processes can be more collaborative and inclusive
• how using graphic design for social change could become a sustainable career path

projects for the spring 2013 semester will include additional work with the midwest center for equality and democracy on their multiple ongoing initiatives, as well as website re-structuring for the new programme. other projects are in the works and will be introduced as relationships are secured with clients. 

this position can be taken as a 3-credit studio elective or not taken for credit, as you wish. it is unpaid but my sparkling personality and the occasional free cup o’ joe may compensate a bit. 

DUTIES TO BE PERFORMED BY COLLABORATORS
collaborators will be expected to work six hours a week, preferably meeting on tuesdays or thursdays for work sessions, critiques, client meetings, and so on. 

design projects for local clients (primary duties)

• attend and participate in client meetings
• design research
• brainstorming, ideation, and iterations
• production work
• project documentation for internal and client use

contributing to the refinement of the new programme’s agenda (secondary duties) 

• promotional work for the new programme including website updates, blog posts, identity refinement, etc

to apply, send a resume and pdf of five work samples to tyler [at] thenewprogramme [dot] net by
friday, january 11, 5pm.

occupy k.c. teach-in

download a pdf file of the talk “communication strategies for activists” formatted for smartphones.

also, a pdf of the physical handouts accompanying the talk.

designing on the backs of others

“the daily heller” has a nice little post about hugo boss’ nazi connections here. seems that boss’ sins were two-fold – he not only sought to capitalize on clothing contracts by joining the national socialist party, but he was a true-believer in the rhetoric of ethnic superiority. they also utilized forced labor in the manufacture of nazi uniforms.

in the spirit of redemption, it’s important to keep in mind that people, and companies, change over time. the corporation acknowledges their unsavory past and is both coming to terms with it and distancing themselves from it as much as possible. makes me wonder how we will view modern-day corporations like mcdonalds and wal-mart in the future, even as we are seeing massive shifts in how tobacco companies are behaving – moving into the food industry as r.j. reynolds has done with the acquisition of nabisco.

an interesting (and quick) read.

edit 8.10.12:
similar info here on “amster brand”

related article on nazi brand guidelines by steven heller over on design observer

great climate change video

the above video is an amazing example of visual advocacy that is designed in a culturally relevant and effective manner. it’s a great response to all of the pundits and decriers who have no authority (other than their status as “famous people”) to report accurately on issues of climate change.

the use of humor and parody is always such an effective way to “help the medicine go down, in the most delightful way”. see the longer article about the video here.

thanks to my student, jessi wilson, for the link.