We Are Rosedale

The Project
When a member of the Rosedale Community is asked, "Where do you live?", most of the residents wouldn't respond with "Rosedale". Usually those who can't answer are renting their home, and are highly nomadic. They aren't willing to devote enough time to get to know their surrounding community. We are making it easier by highlighting places where one can learn, play, eat, worship, and be healthy in Rosedale. This project is about getting to know the community of Rosedale, and its many usable resources. Any new member of the community will easily be able to discover and explore the city of Rosedale with a new sense of community pride.

The Challenge
Rosedale isn't well known, even to some of its current residents, and we want to put it on the map. We then came up with this question: how can graphic design help give Rosedale distinct boundaries and a greater sense of community pride?

The Solution
Our solution is a campaign that begins with an informational booklet, the booklet will be directly sent to new & current residents of the community through the mail. The second and third part of the campaign are street banners and window clings that are meant to educate residents & the commuters of Rosedale alike.








If you would like to see our project page you can click the link below!
Design Ignites Change Website.

VA: Accordian Fold | Cover push

The thought was given from Chris to rethink the rules that separate the different fields of information on the front covers. He likes the three different levels of information (icon, WE ___, and then the locations) but the underlining for the "blank" gets lost. Since the weights are different between the rules, the underlining gets lost. So, we readdressed the fields of color and tried to see if the icons could even interact with the fields a little better too. I think the left approach on all of these works best with the white band running across the square. Plus, the icons play really well with the white band on the pink, the green, and the blue. (books, cart, and slide)

VA: CP Lecture Afterthoughts

Tonight was the Current Prospectives Lecture with Kristen Dettoni that dealt with sustainable design. I figured since this is the focus that my degree project is headed, it would be a great idea if I went. So I went. Well, there was a lot said about design and sustainability. Some of the topics such as bio-mimicry and "green washing" were discussed and it really got my brain thinking. Towards the end of the lecture she showed us examples of how nature has already impacted design. (which is what I'm going to have to start doing). For example, cat eye reflectors does just that. It's a device that was made for all types of uses, such as on the road, and is used to reflect the light from on coming traffic in order to keep track of boundaries and stay on the road at night. Another example is Whale Power. There was a need to move through the air more effectively and efficiently with propellers, and this company discovered whales have texture and ragged edges. This somehow helps slice and dice the air to increase movement with less energy. Some other companies that have come up with more sustainable practices are Walmart, Timberland, Patagonia, Rural Studios, Speedofast skin, and of course many more.

Hearing all of these companies that were coming to the speaker for advice on how to become more sustainable, including Walmart, starting getting me excited. It reminded of the conversation I had with Chris about how I should start brainstorming and the approach I should start with. So, I was thinking that in my research in finding the top 5 things that are wasted and occupy the most space in landfills, I could use this as an opportunity to develop and create a new system for this product to become more sustainable. I'm still unsure on what that will be, but I'm excited to see where this takes me.

VA: Degree Project Thinking

Last week, we seniors were asked to come up with three different areas of focus we would like to explore for our senior degree project. I found this quite difficult. I first began with writing a list of things I liked about design. I enjoy the simple nature of color, and the emotions and effects they can have on people. I like hand generated typography because it is always unique and different. I like to think I like people, meeting them, talking to them, listening to them, seeing them, and bringing them together. Happy people are always nice too. Nature seems to always intrigue me, and I look to it often for inspiration. The process of bio-mimicry and the realization that all design in nature has a use as well as a beauty is stuck in my head. I like the organic characteristic of nature that again reflects the uniqueness that nature has. I am also a fan of recycled design. I like things that find a second use in the same form and things that break down and completely transform into some- thing different. I am a firm supporter for finding different uses for pretty much anything. For me, transferring from a highly illustrative driven design curriculum has led me into a continued inter- est in using illustration within my design whenever possible. I like sketching, painting, cut paper, letterpress and screen printing (although I haven’t done much of the last two), anything hands on and physical really. Web scares me a little. I like motion graphics, primarily in the form of stop motion work. I think it’s the jumpy nature that appeals to me and giving something that naturally has no life, some excitement.

The three areas of interest I proposed were
1. Ethnicity issues dealing with culture, loss of culture in areas, and globalization
2. Advocating for a healthy weight and a healthy life - targeting the obesity issue
3. Recycled design, sustainability, and re purposeful design

SOME THOUGHTS ON EACH DIRECTION
1. With Culture and Globalization I starting thinking about traditions. There are new traditions that are being formed, and old traditions that are being lost. Some areas around the world are dealing with a loss of culture and an increase in the corporate company world. There are needs and wants from both the people and the company.

2. THE WAIT FOR A HEALTHY WEIGHT. It's about thinking. It's all in your head. Subconsciously you're bored, so you eat. There are habits, life choices, simple changes, and factors that all could be addressed with this direction.

3. In my process for thinking about recycled design and sustainability, I know I have to choose something that is new, different, and yes...innovative. Lots of advancements have been made dealing with these issues, and I need to find a different aspect of it. There are good and bad uses for it, different materials (wood, metal, paper, plastic, rubber, etc).

TODAY'S THOUGHTS
In today's discussion with Chris, he gave me some things to think about. Well, first we decided that I had the most passion for the recycled design and sustainability direction...and I agree. We discussed efforts that are already out there, and discussed some questions I should think about for next class. The idea that there is no waste, no impact, or at least less impact, on the earth and in the city. The thinking, which came from Boulder, CO that there is no trash. Everything is either recycled or composted. I need to expose myself to what's out there, and what has been done in order to think about other ways to think about this subject. I need to keep in mind that graphic design is about system oriented thinking, not necessarily arts & crafts and creating a sketchbook from an old cereal box. What are the top 5 things that take up the most space in our landfills? What do we waste the most of?


And in relation to Mo's Degree Project....this is my stress level! WOO!

VA: Meeting Angel from the 42nd Street Mural Project and the creation of Ralph the Rosedalian

Mo and I met with Angel Dew, who is the creative mind behind Rosedale's 42nd Street Mural Project, this past Wednesday (10/13). Mo and I felt that she was a great person to get in contact with for our project about addressing Rosedale's distinct boundaries and community pride issue. Angel lives in Rosedale, and is an active supporter for gaining help for her community. She worked with schools in the Rosedale community and also the got some funding to start the project. About halfway through the project, the funding was pulled and the mural was unfinished. Still today, there are open canvas's ready to be filled. She said spaces are available for any artists, however, it's all volunteer based and artists have to provide their own paint as well as get their mural approved by Wendy Wilson.

After presenting our ideas and prototypes to Angel, we could tell she was excited. She was a great source as far as helping us improve our efforts of effective prototyping. She thinks we should attack multiple banners off Rainbow Blvd, to create a higher impact for drivers coming from both directions. With the fire hydrants, she agrees that it's a great way to easily create a sense of place. Again, I think multiple installations of this would be effective. And finally, most of her excitement came from the idea of guerilla stenciling engaging and interactive messages. We're going to stencil "We _______ Rosedale." and fill in some blanks as well as leave some blank with pieces of chalk nearby. We want to know what the Rosedale community thinks.

Angel strongly pushed the idea of gaining help from KU MED. They are the biggest influence in the area, and she said are most likely the ones able to help fund and support the surrounding community. Angel also gave us some other resourceful people to get in contact with from KU MED, the Community Outreach Program, the Latino Medical Association, the Kansas City Arts Center, and the Kansas City Star. Angel also said she would help us with some stenciling action. She's really excited and wants to be involved, which is AWESOME!

RALPH THE ROSEDALIAN
At 12:30am Thursday morning, Ralph the Rosedalian was brought to life. Located right off 43rd Street across from Frank Rushton Elementary, Ralph stands with his eyes wide open, and his bow tie straight, saying "Hello!" to Rosedale and passing commuters. I followed up around noon that day and Ralph was still intact greeting me as I went to take his picture. More feedback to come on how Ralph interacts with his community.

ROSEDALE: PROTOTYPES

These are my sketches for Lance and I's three ideas, or you could call them prototypes. I basical have some visual representations of what were thinking of doing.



Here is what we did in class today. We took these as templates and basically drew all over them, it was a good way to keep our ideas contained within these directions.




Mo and Lance's brainstorming via Mo's Blog post

Lance and I have done a lot of brainstorming for this project. We always go back to our question which is "how can graphic design help give the Rosedale district distinct boundaries and a greater sense of community pride?". We have focused a lot on the banners, because it seems to be the one thing that everyone goes to first. Every member of the Rosedale community has either hinted at or told us that they need new banners, or would at least like to see them. It is hard to really bridge away from this solution since it is wanted so badly from the community members. Lance and I have thought about the banners, and maybe making them participatory.

Maybe the kids draw the artwork? What if someone were to ask them to draw their vision of Rosedale, and that gets printed on the banners? They would then feel directly apart of the community, and they would have a semi-permanent mark within it. They would be proud, and would want to show it off to their family and friends.

What if the old banners were re-claimed and turned into handbags that are sold at a local market to promote grocery shopping? Or maybe the bags are sold at the church's to promote library usage, because it is good for holding educational material?

We also thought about points of positive interest within Rosedale being accentuated. For example, the fire hydrants are a positive thing. They could be painted by the kids, and this would be subtle, but powerful if you were to come across one.

The idea of stenciling seems very appealing as well, being it is affective and affordable. It also won't damage the surfaces if chalk or natural materials are used. The stencils could sustain many uses as well. These could say many different things such as factual information, or emotional snippets. For example, "the Rosedale farmer's market is from 12-3 on Sundays at the health center" or "visit us at www.rosedale.org for more information".

Lance and I have contacted Angel Dew who was the coordinator for the 42nd Street mural, and she believes strongly in the arts within Rosedale. She mentioned her want for a youth art center behind the mural, and this was of interest to both Lance and I. Although it might be better to consider for a degree project, we are going to keep this in mind.

The directional signs that are used in Rosedale could also be altered to give a sense of distinction. For example all of the signs that are in Rosedale could be a different color compared to Kansas Cities. This would be a simple change, but it could be just enough to mark Rosedale.

Lance and I also talked heavily about taking an old photograph of Rosedale and painting parts of it around the city. It would fit together like a puzzle, and could go on display in the park or something. Although, this idea was highly revolved around us and not necessarily the members of the community. We see this as a problem.

I will say that it is difficult to try and rule out the banners for the sake of good brainstorming, because we know that Rosedalians want new banners pretty badly. So, we are trying to brainstorm deeper into the idea of banners. How can the banners stem across other systems, and help out the community in a dual fashion?

ROSEDALE: Do you know where you live?

Do you know where you live? Its a simple question, really, but there are residents within Rosedale that wouldn’t be able to give you the answer.
This street banner represents Rosedale in the past. This is one of the few markers in Rosedale that lets us know we are in fact in Rosedale. When you get closer to the banner you realize that it was actually handmade, which is evidence a caring community that has been lost.
This is rosedale today. THis sign for the park doesn’t express Rosedales true philosophy. It is weathered, worn down, and uncared for.
This is Rosedale in the future. This marker within Rosedale is a collaborative mural effort. it is located on a very busy road in which a lot of commuters see, and it is evidence of a progressive movement towards a new sense of community pride.
Who are How can graphic design help give Rosedale distinct boundaries and a greater sense of community pride? When a new resident moves into Rosedale, they usually have no idea that they are going be living there. Not knowing the town, in which you reside, automatically cancels out any opportunity for a sense of community pride.
So...who are we going to be targeting?
Renters and Schoolchildren are our main focus.
Renters make up 60% of Rosedales population. This includes students that are attending surrounding schools, as well as low income renters who cannot purchase a home.
Schoolchildren are a huge part of Rosedale, and they are the future. We want to make a sustaining impact on the sense of community pride within Rosedale through these children.
This is the idea receptivity gradient, in which we have placed our audience figures. It helps us visualize our audiences current position on Community pride within Rosedale. Our renters are primarily the ones that are not ready to know about Rosedale. They are considered nomadic, and usually only stay in Rosedale for about 4 years. There education seems to be the priority, and more of a focus in comparison to the surrounding community of Rosedale. The schoolchildren are already familiar with Rosedale, but we want to instill the sense of community pride in them.This way they can be advocates for the cause in the future, and share Rosedale with others. This also provides a way of sustaining Rosedales vision for years to come.
We envision the name of Rosedale holding meaning & relevance to not only the current members of its community, but also with other commuters.
The effectiveness of our work will be measured.
So we hope that when we ask you this question again later ... you will be able to answer.