information murals / mfa thesis

energy conservation 'information mural' design draft

Communication Objectives: 
Raise awareness of the fuel/energy consumption of our daily lives. Explain current sources for fuel/energy and consumption. Provide simple strategies for everyday energy conservation.

Desired Audience Perceptions:
Raise awareness of individual responsibility, “I need to pitch in. This problem is not going to disappear”. This massive energy consumption is everywhere - home, work, school and all travel/ transportation.

Design Objectives: 
Big bold fire. Investigate man’s historic symbols for fire and heat. Design for maximum “visually tactile” surface experience. Investigate the gradient tones and colors of flame. Design for maximum symbolic communication. No photography, artistic expressive interpretation. Symbolic illustration and chart of residential, commercial, industrial and transportation energy consumption.

Information Level Strategies
• Level One: We Need You to Conserve Energy
• Level Two: Statistical information about daily energy usage
• Level Three: six simple strategies to save energy, quote about “conservation ethic”
• Level Four: web site for more info (eia.doe.gov)

water conservation 'information mural' design draft

Communication Objectives: 
Raise awareness of daily water usage. Introduce simple strategies for everyday conservation.

Desired Audience Perceptions:
Raise awareness of individual responsibility. Create a call to action in some - and at least a reminder for all.

Design Objectives: 
Big, easy recognizable, non-scientific, non-photographic, artistic and expressive  representation of water. Design for maximum “visually tactile” surface experience. New high resolution digital output technology can create very rich, textured and inviting backgrounds. Water color tactile texture and stain.

Design for maximum symbolic communication. Water symbols, drop, wave and ripples.

Information Level Strategies
• Level One: We All Need to Conserve Water
• Level Two: Statistical information about daily individual water usage
• Level Three: three simple strategies to save water
• Level Four: web site for more info
(epa.gov/water)

project elements

Phase one
the design on five murals / size each 5 ft x 2.5 ft
(1) Conserve Water
(2) Conserve Energy
(3) Recycle
(4) Grow Healthy Kids
(5) Celebrate Diversity

Design Objectives
(a) create a fast immediate visual message
(b) provide an engaged viewer with a few relevant facts
(c) provide a link for more information

 

Phase two

display and test murals for
(a) design effectiveness
(b) message strength

Phase three
(a) Choose two murals for large format output, 10 ft x 5 ft canvas free-standing murals
(b) display murals in public settings.

Important to this project is the context and public-space settings for these murals. A deliberate attempt will be made to place them into  non-advertising spaces. Public areas that might traditionally exhibit decorative art will be chosen as venues. For example university public spaces, corporate office centers, city hall. Once in place viewer interactions will be observed and a short written survey will be distributed.
 

task timeline & schedule

At this stage, my project requires more research and analysis than design :-{ Over the next couple of weeks I need to write my design briefs, research related project info, secure testing venues and get this site up and running to be a useful tool.

project overview

This project proposes to design and survey a new design medium that combines research and information from the overlapping fields of environmental design, museum exhibit design, graphic design and information design.

This thesis project hopes to help graphic designers and non-profit organizations by introducing a new communication medium for public service messages. The traditional cost of billboards and media advertising is very expensive. New digital technologies and tools can produce high-quality, large-format and affordable alternatives to traditional billboards and displays.