Impact! Design for Social Change is filling up fast!

 It's time again for Impact! Design for Social Change being offered this summer at the School of Visual Arts in NY. As I have mentioned in the past, this intensive program was an amazing and life changing experience for me. I highly recommend it regardless of your profession. A few spots are still available but not for long. If you are interested in finding out more about the program and submitting an application, visit http://impact.sva.edu/

You can also learn more about the classes, lectures and guest speakers from last year by reading previous posts on my blog (July-August).

I found this article in Fast Company's newsletter on charity: water and Viktoria Harrison, who is responsible for the branding and design of the organization. I find her work and desire to help others as an inspiration!

Viktoria Harrison of charity: water Quenches Her Thirst for Philanthropy

"About Viktoria Harrison: Born in Russia to artist parents, Viktoria moved to Brooklyn as a child. The design darling took a leap of faith by leaving the School of Visual Arts before graduating to work at a Manhattan design house, working for clients like Coke and American Express. Tired of fueling retail desire, Vik joined charity: water and now leads design and branding for the innovative organization."

¡Sí Colaboro!

 

Project in progress

In Bogotá, Colombia as in many parts of the world, there are children begging on the streets. Many beg because they are being exploited or see it as the only solution to their economic problems. Out of pity or guilt, citizens give money to these children, aggravating the problem instead of helping. ¡Sí Colaboro! (I'll help) is a campaign that educates citizens on why they should not give money and offers a tangible alternative that offers immediate and long-term assistance by directing them to the ¡Sí Colaboro! non-profit resource center. The resource center serves as a link between existing organizations, the children and their families.

 

 

 

Challenge

A citizen often gives money to a street child out of a sense of guilt or empathy. How do you provide an alternative that meets the needs of both the children and the citizens desire to help? How do we make children and their families aware of the help that already exists and get them to take advantage of these resources?

 

 

Solution

Create a resource center for street children and their families that matches them up with existing service organizations. Have a mobilized team that reaches out to these children to bring information directly to them. Design a campaign for citizens encouraging them to give food with an informational sticker on it.

 

 

This project, as well as many others designed to improve people's lives, can be seen on the Design Ignites Change website. For more information on this project contact me at laura@arangostudio.com.

Lecture with Milton Glaser

Last week we had the great privilege of attending a lecture by Milton Glaser. Those of you who do not know who he is, may recognize him as the designer of the "I (heart) New York" logo (below). He shared his experiences and his work related to the non-profit and or social fields (more examples below). It was a truly entertaining lecture and Q&A session and it was inspiring to see someone who has the ability to choose exactly the work he wants to do!

Impact! Design for Social Change

I am currently attending a 6-week intensive course at the Visual School of Arts in New York. This program focuses on social change and how it can be created through design.

Today is our fourth day and already we have had the opportunity to attend classes with amazing instructors and professionals in the fields of design, social advocacy, marketing and business. We have also had the chance to meet several non-profit organizations that are working hard to improve certain aspects of people's daily lives in one form or another.


Some of these organizations include:
www.IOBY.org
www.democracynow.org
www.enterprisecommunity.org
Healthy Bodegas
http://theblkprojek.wordpress.com/


I have chosen to work with Enterprise Community Partners along with two other students from Brazil. "Enterprise is the national leader in making affordable housing happen. Their mission is to create opportunity for low and moderate-income people through fit, affordable housing and diverse, thriving communities."

More on the challenges and focus of our project later...

Milton Glaser will be giving us a lecture very soon!