Critical Mass Media

This past month has just been fantastic with my degree project. I feel like I'm actually making a difference which I wasn't completely satisfied with last semester in visual advocacy. I'm starting to think this would be a viable path that I would be willing to investigate even further after I graduate. I think the aspect of being connected to the cycling community as my audience along with motorist and focusing on the outside environment specifically makes it seem like what I'm doing isn't work anymore but a calling to take action for what I'm passionate about. Not that I don't enjoy sitting at the computer all day everyday... but seeing how my work really holds up whether its a rude awakening or a thrill of excitement to the mass is the true test. Maybe I overlook this when it comes to previous work I've done because little of it was published to be seen to the mass and start that dialogue outside of the design building.

On another note I wanted to share some links that have taken note of the KC cycling scene along with my projects for my degree.

http://www.kcfreepress.com/news/2010/mar/29/kc-critical-mass/

http://blogs.pitch.com/plog/2010/03/matt_urlaub_mystery_man_behind_main_street_bike_art.php

I think visual advocacy should be taught to the whole school.

- 46 more days till graduation and 46 things to resolve. This is going to be great.

- If your bikes not locked up you better be riding it because it is beautiful outside!

critical mass poster

DP: MIDTERM

At this point in my degree project my experiments have lead me down a path interesting ways of finding ways to create a system to encourage cycling as alternative form of transportation while also providing information in my own personal tone. from the begining I didn't strive for a traditional form of communication and feel this has informed my project and audience on a deeper level. Riding a bike is a personal choice and shouldn't be forced upon someone in an authoritative way. Keeping this in mind I've explored how illustration along with statistics can create a poetic and unique experience to persuade people to follow proper cycling habits without losing the recreational aspect I am personally attached to. Some experiments included miniature cards, valentines cards, event posters, as well as a guerilla billboard. From these I received vital feedback to develop a consistent identity to strengthen my message.

Beyond the design though, communicating directly with cyclist, bike shops and listening to views about my topic played an important role in how my project reached its current state and the conclusion of the overall design system. Making connections help expose and produce a greater awareness about my project. The real success along with seeing more people out riding is the people who see me working or in the process of installing a project come up to me and are inspired by what I'm making. I recently have done an interview with the pitch and met with the Missouri Bike Federations to discuss thoughts on the cycling community. From here I think what I want to do to conclude this campaign is revisit some of the experiments I did previously but fabricate them in a sustainable way to maintain the awareness. Another way of maintaining this project is making it identifiable by giving it a name and brand attributes. These are some examples of what I currently am developing.

Along with this identity I will conclude this project by making some form of publication that houses my system while also sharing ideas, experiences, and advice in efforts to promote a better bicycling commute and community. This is something all my projects can contribute to in some form to express my overall problem and solution and hopefully will become useful to the general public. ~keep calm move along!

SEX_CAR SHOW

I had the opportunity to check out the 2010 car show and boy was I impressed. I'm not a big car fan but I really enjoyed this experience. Maybe because design played a major roll in everything there. From the time lapse of the set up to promotional materials. It was overwhelming to be surrounded by so many pretty objects. Cars that looked like bat mobiles with contours you have to see in person. I did get to sit in my favorite car ( 07 Rx8 ) even though it was a 2010. I was kinda bummed though because it was completely stock, but hey it was still pretty radical. So for the actually task of finding something Practical, Persuasive, and Poetic at the car show I came across plenty of examples. Many of them were a mix of all three so I guess my examples might be more literal to each one.

Practical- I chose this photo because the lighting of an object is always an important component to displaying something, especially items worth big bucks.. gotta make them shine under good lighting. just look at the quality of the photographs too (NO FLASH).

Poetic- This is one of the first things I seen when I was at the car show and definitely felt they were telling a storying and tried to put you in the mood of these historical cars. Kind of cheesy but I got the idea. Maybe if they had real models like the price is right or something along those lines it would have been EPIC!

Persuasive- OK. um. wow. almost every dealer had someone persuading the audience with all their great features. Along with informational motion graphics this guy was trying his hardest so I gotta say it got my attention. Maybe if I was interested in actually buying a vehicle I would have stuck around longer but the truth of it is I have to WORK to make money first so I'm going to get back to work!

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

During my reading of some professions in the books of graphic artists guides and ethical practices I came across and wide range of information. Details were very intense or a little vague. I felt there was a divide in the general idea of what kind of work it is and the process of executing. The executing part is always going to change but will really help during actual projects. So I read over chart mapping book jacket or cover design and environmental signage. These are some of the most interesting things to me and go along with the kind of designer I am.

Under chart mapping I thought it was interesting that billable expenses can include: reference materials, travel, messengers, miscellaneous art supplies, and digital out by an imaging center. I was most surprised by travel and messengers. I really like being apart of that data collection and necessary research to influence the project and its nice to know that in chart mapping this should be covered.

Reading through publication design I thought it was interesting book jacket designs lead to a high rate of rejection. As a designers and publishers we take the risk and should indicate a rejection fee reflecting the amount of work complete at the time of the project's termination.

Environmental signage is something I like but feel I would need to study under an architect for awhile to get a better idea of rules and regulations of building in the environment. I really liked that two thirds of environmental graphic design firms range from 1-15 people with annual fees ranging from $100,000 to 2 million! WOW. I found it interesting that useful studies for environmental graphic signage include architectural drafting, 2D & 3D design software, packaging, psychology, fine art, literature, and cultural anthropology.

these are just a few things I can across in this brief reading. The info in this book is pretty dense and detail and will take me multiple reads to engrain these important guidelines into everyday practice.

DP: dream job

For me a dream job means happiness. There are a lot of aspects of life that make me happy and to incorporate them into a single job would be amazing! Although certain things that make me happy may not pay the bills, so I'm going to try and narrow the things that do into something manageable.

I can see myself working at a small design firm with people who share common interest to always keep the work environment creative and enjoyable. It makes me happy to create work for friends and locals that need some help with design but aren't the hippest brand out there. Finding happiness in the studio is a must and should be covered in all forms of inspiring design whether it is a light switch cover or an add in an extinct newspaper. Location is still up in the air but west coast weather would be amazing. The location must also have a strong cycling community that will keep me in shape. I often think about how incredible it would be to open a small design studio with a friend and have our own space to create personal work on the side. I would definitely want to have a letterpress complete with a wood shop and tool set. I would basically make everything I ever wanted to make to survive. I think this sounds like a design job of a starving artist but this to me can pressure and challenge me to take on bigger projects in the future to keep me going.

DP: question

re-revised - How can a multifaceted design system through out kansas city create and promote a stronger, safer, and a more enjoyable option for transportation among the community of pedestrians and motorists.

Meredith - With the use of facts, ideas and cultural contexts, how could an outdoor, interactive, multifaceted design system promote basic interest, changes in safety, community building, and sustainability within the cyclist community in Kansas City.

Mine - How can cycling become a prominent option for pedestrians as transportation or recreation in the Kansas City area by providing information to build a stronger community between motorist and cyclists.

I talked with Meredith about my degree project and really felt I wanted to cover a lot of things that are connected to cycling in kansas city. I believe the idea of "community" from motorist to pedestrians to bikes shops to the city planners are key areas I will need to focus on. I also want emphasize the importance of cycling as a safe and fun way to commute among these areas even if they choose not to ride.

MX website response

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