Topic #1: New York vs. Iowa Pacific Holdings

Political Issues that are important to me series.

My sketches for this topic:

I want to express those storing train cars along 30 miles of the Adirondack Park is unacceptable.  Teddy Roosevelt would not approve!

References:

Adirondack Experience Logo- https://www.theadkx.org/

New York State Drawing- http://www.vigilias.com/vigiliasfreestate-headed-new-york-state

Blue Line Map- http://poststar.com/blue-line-map/pdf_98dff682-6319-11e0-a78f-001cc4c002e0.htm

Mount Marcy-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adirondack_Mountains

Train Storage- http://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/opinion/editorials/2018/01/what-can-the-

        state-really-do-about-eyesore-train-cars/

Col. Theodore Roosevelt- https://ny.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/theodore-early-years-ken-burns-the-roosevelts/theodore-early-years-ken-burns-the-roosevelts/#.WnDPfqinGUk

Paintings:

Autumn Morning, Racquette Lake- Arthur Fitswilliam Tait
Bouquet Valley- William Trost Richards
Schroon Mountain, Adirondacks- Thomas Cole
The View from Asgaard Rockwell Kent's Adirondack Legacy

M1: Discussion- Don’t be a Design Zombie

I am the Assistant Librarian at our local library, many of the tasks that I do on a daily basis help me to become a better designer.  I created our website, the process itself taught me to listen to what the needs were for our Patrons, to simplify it so that I could maintain it and the completion of it has given me the confidence to try new things.  Creating posters, slides for our website, and Facebook posts at work have helped me to see how people react to specific images and messages.  Taking pictures of the events that take place at our library have allowed me to experiment with creating a focus on the moment we are trying to capture.

There are three ideas from Victore’s design process that I can see myself using in my design process.  The first is not to start the computer and its program to sketch out your thoughts, instead use paper and pencil.  I find this helpful to establish a plan. I am usually consuming so much time placing items on the screen, changing out colors, and sizing type to fit my ideas, that I struggle to get through the project at hand. Next, distractions from electronics can overwhelm you and take away your inner peace which stops you from being creative.  I think this tip goes beyond designing itself; it can also help with distant learning assignments and classwork.  Finally, finish being indecisive and just go with something and follow it through.  Otherwise, you will get stuck in the details and fear of deciding to do the wrong thing.  Many times I have found myself muddling through the many choices only to see myself not getting anywhere productively, this is not just frustrating but exhausting.  Picking a focus and going with it is excellent advice. (Behance, 2010)

References:

Behance, I. (2010, October 20). James Victore: Don't Be A Design Zombie. Retrieved January 23, 2018, from http://99u.com/articles/6944/james-victore-dont-be-a-design-zombie

M1 Discussion: The Graphic Imperative

Poster Chosen: AIGA Literacy Campaign, 1997

The Graphic Imperative

This image stood out to me because it embraces the simplicity of reading without the distractions of technology to captivate a child’s interest.  The bright yellow background draws your attention quickly to the image of the television which is the central focus of the picture.  The child reading on the TV shows a balance of imbalances which is called symmetria (Soltes, 2007, p. 18). I find this valuable because when the world around you wants to popularize something like television, it changes an entire culture, and the child reading above the tv shows the priorities of education as the higher standard. 

              I feel this poster exhibits how literacy is being affected by technology in our environment.  Using the focus of scholarship to persuade and communicate to its audience that children will be the most affected by this movement, creates people to stop and think.  I love the fact that the television is unplugged, this not only conveys the issue, but it also gives you a solution to technology overload.  The children of 1997 are adults today; this is an ongoing problem facing our young adults this poster has the terrific merit of exposing an issue that transformed into future matters.

References:

Soltes, O. Z. (2007). Art across the ages. course guidebook. Chantilly, VA: Teaching Co.