PROJECT 3: INTERACTIVE MURAL #SEATHIS
For Project 3 my group and I decided to look and consider problems/ issues that are going on around the world that we are passionate about to come up with some solutions involving new media and strategies that we have learned this year. We came to the conclusion to make an interactive mural to bring a call to action informing the public about the major issues involving our oceans.
We wanted to target a general audience, we decided to use genuine human curiosity to spread these important messages. There are five QR codes on the mural, each one will bring you to a different page of the website which features a sensitive video along with a button where you are able to donate to non-profit organizations that relate to the topic of that page. The pages are simple yet get straight to the point as to not lose viewers’ attention, and to gather the most important information to share.
This project incorporates many to many strategies as well as upstaging the man.
Roles:
Graphic designer/art stuff – Colleen
Marketing – Claire
Research – Tyler
Textiles – Andreas
Legal Aspects – Jordan
During this project, I worked on photoshopping the final mural and taking pictures of places around campus to possibly put a mural like this, as well as creating QR codes. I also helped Claire with making the mock-up website for our project and helped Claire and Tyler with relating aspects of this project back to class i.e. the Humane Tech design guide. Andreas looked into the design life cycle behind the materials used to create a mural like this and its impact on the earth and surrounding area, as well as any kinds of products that would be used to take a mural off of the wall. Jordan worked on looking into the legal aspects of creating a mural like this as well as being able to use the videos that we would like to use on our website. Tyler worked on research of the specific problems as well as the effectiveness behind murals that are put up legally vs illegally and their effect on the public. We all collectively put our effort and parts into this project as well as helping each other out in whatever aspect that we could.
Empathize: Who is your user? Who else will the sourcing, making, transportation, or waste for this project impact and can you mitigate this?
Source:http://www.designlife-cycle.com/plastic-straws
The main type of plastic used in plastic straws is called Polypropylene. This is a thermoplastic that has a lot of advantages for the people who produce it but can have an overall harmful impact.
The materials that go into straws and the processes that go into making them end up making this product extremely wasteful. One example is the excess energy being used to make straws is really harmful to the environment because of the greenhouse gasses it produces
At the end of their life-cycle plastic straws are usually incinerated, recycled, or brought to a landfill, but the main problem is that straws most commonly become litter
Up to 500 million straws are used a day and 8.3 billion pollute our world’s beaches according to a recent study
Eight million tons of plastic flow into the ocean every single and year and plastic straws are just a small 0.025% of that plastic
Companies have tried making glass and metal straws so they can be less wasteful and reusable
There have also been many companies proposing to ban plastic straws as a whole with Seattle being the most productive in this movement. If the world can jump on this we can try to mitigate this situation
Sources:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2018/07/news-plastic-drinking-straw-history-ban/#close
http://www.designlife-cycle.com/plastic-straws
Our target user base for this assignment is the entirety of the ocean. So I have looked into the design life cycle of one of the major problems that are causing our ocean harm: Plastic Straws and other types of plastics
Define: What are the user’s needs? Does the need addressed by this product also address other basic human needs mentioned by Hari, Maslow, or Center for Humane Tech? Pick one or more of these rubrics and show how your design uses best practices
The user that is unwittingly or uncaringly polluting the oceans with their actions. Therefore, the user needs a wakeup call via direct images of their impact. We will use the Humane Tech guide found here.
Part I
Emotional – Not highly supported as the design is meant to be emotionally impactful and eye-catching. It creates stress and despair but puts the user in a state that makes them more likely to feel the need for action.
Attention – With a minimalist aesthetic, the few words of white text reading “Sensitive Content” will be very eye-catching. Furthermore, the dark gray background of the piece would contrast well against the lighter backdrop is placed on.
Sensemaking – Sensemaking is supported as the information is presented in an intriguing fashion while incorporating information about hot button issues related to the ocean.
Decision Making – The mural would incorporate QR codes with links to videos pertaining to the topic as a starting point. From there, links to charities for donation to help fund ocean-saving efforts, as well as links about ways that the average person can lessen their impact, will be included.
Social Reasoning – QR codes embedded in the mural itself would enable wide sharing of the mural. However, if the mural has multiple installations at different points in the country, it would enable each user to have individual experience with it.
Group Dynamics- The design supports forming a cohesive group as the ocean is a key part of the Earth and therefore an important issue for many people. Moreover, it would feature a sense of belonging on this Earth and motivate groups of people who see it take action as a group instead of as individuals
Part II
In what ways does your product/feature currently engage Human Sensitivities?
The mural engages the emotions of each user as well as their attention by way of its design. Although the mural is intended to grab the attention of each user by way of partially stressing them out, the goal is to motivate each individual to take action against the dilemma decimating our seas.
How might your product/feature support or elevate human sensitivities?
The mural elevates the user’s sense of sensemaking and social reasoning by the strong topics and ideas presented in video form primarily and supported by the webpage that is accessed after watching the said video.
Action Statement
A mural is a versatile, easy to read, and an impactful method of disseminating information. Our idea of a minimalist aesthetic is to both draw in the crowd as well as create an easy way to share this via a simple statement. We endeavor to change the minds of individuals with stunning imagery and strong words that will fill their hearts with a burning passion for change on a global scale.
Ideate: Brainstorm a rich array of possible directions the project could take. Think outside the box. Surprise us.
Prototype: Create a visible or tangible representation of your project. You can use any tech you have learned so far–Adobe products, photos, Adobe Spark, Web gallery, etc You might even consider Adobe XD (free) id you want to mock-up an App.
Test: You should do at least one round of tests with another group and keep a record of findings, then explain how you were (or were not) able to incorporate the feedback and why/not?
Revise: Create a is a prototype that reflects as much of the feedback as possible
3) Ideate:
This mural can be put in many different places around the world and can be changed about so many different issues and it doesn’t have to be specific about the ocean. You can go to New York City and it can be about the homeless population. Since the QR codes can be switched to anything that is how it applies. And the info that can be found on the QR codes can be shared on social media through a hashtag.
Thinking about people who don’t like technology or don’t have it (thinking about NYC and the homeless topic) we can make it physically, but this would be more of an art installation. If it was in a store or a store window and it was just videos and then you would have a flap that can open up and then the video would start playing and then anyone can view it and it’s not just technology-driven. But in order to continue having it with social media, the QR codes will be up the flaps.
Have a tank full of water that is clear and a stat pops up (2050) about how many fish there are in the ocean and then they show up. Then the stat about how much plastic is will pop up and then it will show the ratio and be sad.
Project Issues/Components
Issues
Plastic
Every year, over 8 million tons of plastic are dumped into the ocean and invade every ecosystem from the deepest trench to the shallowest pool. Plastic is so invasive that over 90% of seabirds have or have had plastic in the stomachs during their lifetime. The trend is only going to continue as nearly half of all plastic has been manufactured in the past 20 years. Efforts to ban straws are a good start, but reforming commercial fisheries and their harmful practices are the only way to truly make a difference.
Nearly half of all plastic has been made in the last 20 years
Over 90% of seabirds have or have had plastic in their stomachs
As of 2018, global plastic production has reached an all-time high of nearly 360 million metric tons per year
More than 8 million tons of plastic are dumped in the ocean each year
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02WjKxk1veQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BInXAvtt8-o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Our5CZz5qoU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGFUhQVMMak
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2J2qdOrW44 – this one
Temperature Change/Acidification
The oceans of Earth cover roughly 71% of the surface and are the lifeblood of countless current ecosystems and where innumerable organisms flourish. Yet, the planet’s dominant species has routinely pumped pollution into the atmosphere, 25% of which is then captured by the oceans. Ocean acidity has increased by about 30% since the industrial revolution and the rate at which the ocean’s pH balance is changed has continually accelerated as well.
Each year, the ocean absorbs almost 25% of all human-made CO2
Ocean acidification throws off the balance in the food web
Ocean acidity has increased by about 30% in total since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution and if CO2 emissions continue to grow, the rate of acidification will accelerate in the coming decades. This rate of change, to the best of our knowledge, is many times faster than anything experienced in the last 250 million years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFO-mfH0SkA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuvY5YG5zA4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krC9gsLMw3U
Overfishing
Overfishing the oceans has resulted in a great loss of biodiversity. Over the past 50 years, 90% of the ocean’s top predators have had their populations dwindle down to near-nothing. And the system isn’t even stable economically. Government subsidies are the only thing keeping the commercial fishing industry alive. Overfishing has introduced countless tons of plastics into the largest bodies around the world only to decimate their ecosystems and drive native species into extinction.
In the past 50 years, 90% of the oceans top predators have had their populations dwindle down to near-nothing
In 1989, roughly 90 million metric tons of fish and other marine animals were caught. That was the peak of commercial fishing with returns diminishing each year since
Government subsidies have led to the viability of the commercial fishing industry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBce3OpDMCk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wFR5kkmggo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNdR808jMSA
Sea Levels Rising
Click to access 10_Tips_on_Sea_Level_Rise_final.pdf
Since 1880, average sea levels have risen a total of over 8.0 inches. With at least 2.6 inches of that being from the past 26 years alone. On Average, sea levels are currently rising at a rate of roughly ⅛ inch per year leading to an increase in the frequency and severity of storms. Leading to losses of habitat and life for humans and other organisms. From the peoples of island and coastal regions who will lose their homes, to those whose area is flooded with climate change refugees. Sea levels rising affects everyone.
Sea levels rise at roughly ⅛ an inch per year
Sea levels rose a total of 2.6 inches from 1993 to 2014
Sea levels rising has led to an uptick in the frequency and severity of storms
Relocation refugees will become much more common
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMuMiNupYic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msnOHuPep9I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rluoyONhYAE
Coral Bleaching
Coral Bleaching is caused by a variety of factors, primarily pollution and rising temperatures in the water. The world’s largest reef system, Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef, is over 20 million years old, stretches over 1600 miles, and is home to hundreds of different species of marine fauna. It’s also dying. Since 2016 alone, half of all the corals in the reef perished from the increase in heat. Corals play a vital role as the habitat of an ecosystem and need to be protected to prevent the downfall of the entire area.
Caused by rising ocean temperatures and by pollution in area as well as CO2 pumped into the atmosphere by fossil fuels
the Climate Council of Australia reported that 93 percent of individual reefs in the Great Barrier Reef has suffered some degree of bleaching, with northernmost reefs most severely affected.
Loss of corals leads to a loss of both the individual animal as well as a habitat for a diverse range of marine entities.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fA6mpexcyN4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFdPmiwZzVE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5DooxgwEiw
Components
Abstract
For our project, we will be formulating a plan to create an interactive art piece that is both widely accessible and that enables each individual viewer to have a unique and personal experience. A mural was decided upon to be the most suitable for this campaign. The mural will be of a minimalist design featuring the words “This is Sensitive Content” with a set of QR codes below. For quick and easy accessibility, the mural will contain fives QR codes that can be scanned to reveal videos and information pertaining to (1) Ocean plastics, (2) Temperature change/ Acidification, (3) Overfishing, (4) Sea Levels Rising, or (5) Coral Bleaching. The information will be hosted on a website that is to be designed. For our purposes, we will create a mockup website using Adobe Xd and disseminate our plan via a Google Slides presentation. The aim of our project is to educate and invigorate people to take action against climate change and help prevent our oceans from dying.
The mural is a versatile and relatively portable medium. Therefore, this piece can be hung in a variety of places at the same time with multiple copies of the piece or the piece can be moved around to different areas over the course of a predetermined time period. Possible locations for the piece include The Memorial Union, Raymond H. Fogler Library, Murray Hall, and other places off-campus. In an ideal scenario, the mural would be hung in a high-traffic city such as New York City, Los Angeles, or Miami; places that have already or will in the future be affected by changes in the oceans.
Effectiveness of Murals:
Murals are usually a passive tool in information dissemination. However, by incorporating a webpage loaded by easy-to-access QR codes, it becomes a more active tool in sharing information. As of 2019, 81% of Americans currently own and operate a smartphone that is internet capable that can be utilized to interact with the mural. Furthermore, more high-traffic areas such as NYC and LA are covered in a blanket of mobile data and WiFi so that connectivity is not an issue. Moreover, those areas having both of those attributes mean that they would be suitable locations for our project. Moreover, Murals are not as effective if they are overshadowed by the appearance of the surrounding area. If the location is run-down and generally unkempt, the mural will fade into the background and become a part of the mess. However, if the area is kept clean and orderly, murals become more effective as they are more likely to be noticed as an art installation rather than simply a small part of the environment. The key to an effective mural is balancing the aesthetic aspect of the piece with the surrounding area in order to maximize the viability of its message.
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