A Very Much Needed Quick Guide to Type

If you are a designer you can probably relate...especially to the reference of using Comic Sans! You may want to show this to your clients.

For those of you who are not designers, hopefully this will serve as a useful guide.

Click here to see the original article and enlarge image.

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).

Conflict Kitchen May Soon Have a New Item to Add to Their Menu

Conflict Kitchen is a take-out restaurant that sells food only from countries that the United States is in conflict with. Every three or four months, there is a rotation of country and food that is served through a window at their Pittsburgh location. 

Not only does Conflict Kitchen serve food, but the project, founded by artist Jon Rubin, creates events, programming and provides information via the food wrappers in order to initiate conversations and create awareness. Through the collaboration of the Afghan community and the artists who run the project, the kitchen is now serving Afghan turnovers with a pumpkin, spinach, lentil or potato and leeks filling.

In the future they will be focusing on North Korea, Venezuela and quite possibly, depending on the upcoming events...Libya? Hopefully, not.

A Canadian Brand Proves Generic Packaging Can Be Beautiful

"No Name (or Sans Nom, this is Canada), the private label of the Toronto-based grocery chain Loblaw, has found a way to both stand out on shelves and provide a service to smart shoppers with simple, clean design that hardly anyone could quibble about." (GOOD newsletter Oct.)

http://www.good.is/post/a-canadian-brand-proves-generic-packaging-can-be-beautiful/

While this new design has proved to be effective in increasing sales and creating brand recognition among Canadian consumers, I am not quite sure that I agree that this packaging is "beautiful". The packaging definitely stands out, making it easy to find and it seems to scream "generic and affordable" which is helpful to someone who wants to get in and out of the grocery store without spending too much money. I am just not sure I want my food packaging to scream out to me or practically glow in the dark from my pantry.

I really do like the use of Helvetica and the layout of the type. The clean and simple design is attractive but that radio active yellow is what I find disturbing. It's actually making my stomach churn. I want to think that I am eating something somewhat healthy even if it is generic and cheap. Perhaps a different color could achieve the same effect without being so in your face.

When I think of successful and appealing food packaging for generic and affordable products, Publix grocery stores come to mind. The packaging is clean, creative, simple and fun. It is easily recognizable, good price and I feel like I am getting a decent product. Look for yourself.

What are your thoughts? Do you think that Loblaw's packaging is beautiful? What other examples of good generic packaging do you know of?

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."

charity: water

While I was in NY over the summer attending SVA for the Impact! Design for Social Change program, we had the amazing opportunity to visit the charity:water offices. Scott Harrison, the founder of charity:water, told us the story of how this organization got started and why. I was both shocked and amazed when I learned about how scarce water is in several parts of the world and the extent to which it affects people's lives. Amazed by the efforts and results charity:water has made.

Basically 1 out of 8 people do not have clean and safe drinking water. This means that they are exposed to all types of diseases that can eventually lead to death. Imagine if you were one of those 8!

Scott and his team do a much better job of explaining the urgent need for water as well as show you the impact that having water has on the people who need it the most. Check out the videos and information throughout the charity:water site.

charity: water videos

In the meantime, a big birthday is coming up for me and I could not think of a better way to celebrate it than by helping others. I really have no need for gifts, especially if I end up moving, (more stuff to pack) except for maybe a "happy birthday" and a donation to this cause.

So, I guess I am a little ambitious trying to raise 5,000 from the start, but that is what it takes to build a well for a village. Any donation is welcome. $20 can give one person clean water for 20 years! 

Start donating now! Not for me but for the one out of eight that don't have water.

Thanks for your contributions. 

Click here to donate http://mycharitywater.org/arangostudio

¡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.