For my independent project, I chose to recreate three paintings I had done in my color and invention course this semester. I wanted to see what it would be like work on the same idea or concept in two different mediums. The original prompt for the paintings was to create an abstract “sense of place”. We were asked to play around with color composition and scale and layering, which I thought translated well into graphic design. I had a lot of fun adapting these works into illustrator, and am happy with how they turned out!
Plant for the Worst Case ScenarioStop talking, stop planning, and start cookingDonate. Don’t Waste.
Thanks to COVID-19 and the timely response from our government, food insecurity for Americans is no less of a problem now than it was when the grocery stores were fully stocked and the restaurants we not shuttered. In fact, according to the United Nations’ World Food Program, the number of people globally who deal with food insecurity could double this year due to the coronavirus (Farge, 2020). America is no exception; while farmers have had little to no trouble producing fresh produce and dairy this season, much of it is going to waste since the restaurants, cruise ships, and other large enterprises have stopped ordering food (Yaffe-Bellany & Corkery, 2020). Meanwhile, food banks are struggling to provide enough resources for those who suddenly need it, since they have not been equipped to handle a nationwide crisis. The pantries and shelves that would normally serve a fraction of their local populations have been overwhelmed by an increase in demand and a decrease in volunteers. The edible donations they would normally receive from restaurants, hotels, and grocery stores’ overstock are dwindling, and in order to attain enough food to serve their community, many food banks have had to begin buying food items at full price. Feeding America, the largest organization of food banks in the country, estimates that they will need some $1.4 billion in order to meet the needs of their users (Kulish, 2020). On April 17th the USDA announced a new program, the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), which allocates $19 billion to farmers as well as to redistribution efforts; $16 billion goes to farmers and ranchers to ensure that they can continue to produce food even after suffering the loss of most of their sales, and $3 billion will go to regional and local distributors so that the next crop does not go to waste. They hope to transport the food grown to food banks and other non-profits across America (USDA, 2020). As of today, it is too soon to tell how this program will impact the widespread food insecurity that many are experiencing. Prior to its release, Craig Fugate, former director of FEMA, said in an interview, “I think being able to get fresh produce, get meats of variety will go away.” (Cooper, 2020). He, along with many other experts, are sure of one thing: we will not run out of food. Perhaps the implementation of CFAP will help to ensure that we do not miss out on food varieties, either.
In the meantime, while America awaits the results of the $19 billion relief to farmers, crops will need to be replanted since many have been buried and essentially thrown out. Food banks will continue to purchase food they can’t afford, and lines of cars will continue to form outside. Grocery stores will continue to ration the amount of milk and eggs one person can buy. Americans will (hopefully) continue to stay home when possible. Although very different, the pandemic aftermath is beginning to resemble a country at war, a concept that this country is no stranger to. During both World Wars, food shortages became commonplace and Americans were asked to ration their food. One solution to this came in the form of a collective effort, put forth by propaganda and later accepted by the federal government as an economically helpful endeavor: victory gardens. These were gardens that everyday families would make and cultivate all across the country in order to combat the food shortages caused by the wars, and it worked (The Associated Press, 2020). Support for the idea was gathered by distributing posters that depicted beautiful gardens, fresh vegetables, people working in the garden supporting their country, and demanding slogans like “Food will win the war” and “Food is Ammunition – don’t waste it” (Swearingen, 2013). During the current pandemic, many connections have been drawn between the war efforts and the current efforts of essential workers, who risk their lives daily for the good of the population. The concept of victory gardens has resurfaced as well; through social media, new home-gardeners have been promoting their work as a way to prepare for the worst, if the food supply system stumbles, and to share their outlet with friends. Gardening is an excellent way to kill some time. In urban areas, community gardens are working to grow enough to help support food banks and locals who need it. Historian Rose Hayden-Smith explains, “‘We don’t have poster art, but we have Instagram,’” (The Associated Press, 2020). As this movement takes flight, the inspirational messages of the original posters from the early-mid 20th century begin to resemble the messages that Feeding America and World Central Kitchen activists, like Chef José Andrés, have been proclaiming all along. The bottom line is that food is a necessity, daily.
Examples of Victory Garden posters from both WWI and WWII. (Swearingen, 2013)
After researching the impact of victory gardens on America’s hearts and stomachs during the wars, I found them to be an inspiring concept that we could all benefit from. This does not necessarily mean we should all grow a garden; as mentioned previously, America is not running out of food. Certain areas and the organizations that need it most, however, are. Therefore, I think that this country as a whole could benefit from the concept of these gardens by taking their message to heart: support your fellow citizens, don’t waste your food, contribute to the fight against hunger [by donations, by advocacy, by spreading awareness, by volunteering, etc]. Food insecurity is not a new problem, but it has been aggravated by this pandemic, and we’ll need an all-hands-on-deck approach to combat it. It’s comforting to see people already beginning to pitch in on this front, with José Andrés’ inspiring movement World Central Kitchen taking a strong lead, and the USDA’s announcement of new funding for distribution centers. I don’t believe that we can ever stress enough the importance of providing food for communities that need it. Therefore, I would like to bring the art world into this. Designers and illustrators all over the world have been creating posters and graphics that are intended to raise awareness about the coronavirus, from depicting #healthcareheroes, to #stayhome and #washhands infographics. Online submissions to competitions for the best, most uplifting and informative posters continue to flow (Loos, 2020). Instagram is ridden with illustrations of thanks to our nurses, doctors, and grocery workers. I wanted to add to this collection by creating a series of graphic images that brings awareness to the food insecurity that many are facing due to COVID-19, and ways that the average American can help. I drew my inspiration from the original victory garden posters, which were incredibly effective in motivating people in their time, and then modernized the images and messages in subtle ways. The slogans and messages used are adopted from current activists’ rhetoric, and the illustrations represent modernized urban gardens, a home-delivery volunteer, no-waste-tropes, and outreach. On a couple of these posters, a nod to the organizations Feeding America, World Central Kitchen, and Action Against Hunger is given. My hope is that these works inspire people to either contribute to the fight against hunger with small tasks like cooking for their neighbors, volunteering at a food bank, or by raising awareness about the issue thereby contributing to advocacy on the subject. The idea is not new, but it certainly deserves more attention: hunger is not going to wait for us to defeat the pandemic before it continues to take lives.
Materials: swimsuit top padding, Urban Outfitters reusable shopping bag, thread
This face covering is a dual purpose fashion piece that is supposed to be both protective for the wearer and a statement piece on consumerism and capitalism, which have proven to remain prevalent in the midst of a global pandemic. With COVID-19 stopping society dead in its tracks and overturning the lives of millions of people, daily life looks drastically different than it did just months ago. Facial coverings, like masks, are becoming a requirement in many communities. The problem I set out to solve with this piece is to help prevent the spread of the virus while commenting on our priorities as a society.
The virus affects places based on the people and the cultures present, and we are all still getting used to the new normal. Though in densely populated areas, such as large cities there is a stark contrast where streets are typically full of people eating, shopping, traveling, and sightseeing. These places are largely reliant on people spending money and there is an inherently American quality in consumerism and capitalism. People are beginning to get impatient, and many people are turning to online shopping as an alternative to their usual shopping habits. Americans feel the need to consume constantly, and that does not change in a global pandemic.
There is also irony in this piece because people are protesting towns and cities being shut down. People are wearing masks to gather and protest, masks to go out shopping for necessary items, and as states slowly begin to reopen, items that are not necessarily essential. With this piece, wearers might quite literally be shopping in a shopping bag. Although subtle, the Urban Outfitters logo repeating is meant to be a reminder that consumerism is a haunting aspect of our society, and that people still care about shopping in some cases more than they do saving lives. It also adds an element of fashion.
I used a bathing suit top pad for thickness to filter the air that the wearer would be breathing in, and to block the air they’re breathing out. The reusable bag itself is soft, and I followed the blueprint of a typical surgical face mask. The ties make it easily adjustable to any head, and the mask, although more effective as an upside down triangle, can be worn either way. The triangle itself indicates a caution symbol, as well as the yellow thread which is often associated with danger – in this case, the disease. I chose the beige colored bag to be subtle, and the yellow thread matches well. The material itself is washable and can be reused until it falls apart. Overall, it is a simple design with a bold statement associated that I think everyone should consider in order to re-evaluate our societal priorities and that which is truly important.
My final project mimics modern designer brand trends in a time of distress. Masks are purposed for functionality and not necessarily looks. My goal was to create a mask for a designer brand that could be functional, yet remind the consumer that they can still live their daily lives in style.
My big idea was to be able to protect yourself while being able to mimic a trend that reminds us of high fashion. I set out to create something fashionable, yet minimalistic and comfortable.
I started with a sweater and cut it into a shape that covered the face. Afterward, I experimented with different patterns and came across Burberry’s check pattern and decided to implement a similar style in which these bigger brands could use.
Original Mask idea
I ultimately stuck with the Burberry idea, however, I was inspired by other check patterns and fashion brands.
Atalaya Murphy, 05-05-2020, Materials: Fabric (Old T-shirt), Cotton headband, thread and needle. Optional : Parchment paper, Iron, and Paper.
This face mask is created to be accessible to all, and to make a statement. The materials were all found lying around the house, and hand made, only requiring a needle and thread. An old t-shirt was cut, folded to create a filter, and sewn. It was a very simple stitch that followed pulled together the folded layers, and some stitches to attach and adjust the headband.Another problem tackled with this design is the discomfort many have experienced with straps near the ears. An old head band was cut and sized to my head, so I could rest the mask on the bridge of my nose and the strap fell under my ears. This depleted any possibility of discomfort around the ear. Also, this allows for you to wear the mask around your neck while you are not wearing it. The letters and words written on the mask was a repeated trial and error. For my mask I chose a black color, which limited what I could use to write the words on the mask. There is one method that involved printing the letters out from a word document, and using parchment paper to iron the letters (printed from a word doc) on to the front of the mask. However, if these items are not available, a different color fabric would allow you to just use a sharpie, or other fabric pen.
While it may not be the most stylish mask one could wear, it serves a great purpose. As the virus has continued to spread, there has been a number of incidents that have spread misinformation and havoc. Most of these messages coming from the President of the United States as well, the most recent, a suggestion of ingesting disinfectant into the body. The only information that should be spread around, is the information from the CDC, most qualified to handle these situations. The design of this mask inspires activism. The information that is being spread to the United States should be accurate and helpful to all. It is important to display sources that would only give correct information. No one should be left behind, unable to have adequate resources to create the mask- hence the DIY aspect. Although our mouths might be covered, it does not mean we must remain silent.
My idea was initially inspired by my mom who is a preschool teacher. She’s been interacting with her class via Zoom and says the kids are having a hard time grasping what’s going on (why they can’t see friends, why they have class online). It’s a confusing situation on all fronts. That likely includes wearing PPE in public.
While it’s likely hard to make a fussy or fidgety child wear a face mask, it’s also quite important that this happens since children can be asymptomatic carriers of the coronavirus. I haven’t seen much about masks created especially for children, but this concept could be beneficial to our collective health.
For this, I also pulled vague inspiration from elementary school when we would preform Eric Carle’s From Head to Toe wearing paper plate masks of each of the different animals. I figured making cloth masks animal-themed could make them more enticing and fun. From here my goals became child-friendly aesthetics and comfort of design.
When researching cloth mask designs, the two predominant types were the classic pleated style and the slightly more involved, cup-like shape. While the pleated design was simpler to craft, it also seemed like it would detract from the aesthetic additions. I settled on the more complex but convient-for-design’s-sake second option. I added a back-tie instead of the typical ear-loops to enhance the comfort and lessen the chance of children trying to take it off.
After stitching a few models, I found the design was slightly more forgiving than I had thought, although time consuming since I didn’t have a sewing machine. Instead of making multiple stitched prototypes, I began to test different animal options with paper. I collaged different colors together to create my options. Once I had the fundamentals, I transferred it all to illustrator to polish up. The final design involves following the preset base pattern, and then cutting additional shapes to create noses/snouts/beaks/tongues/etc.
This design may seem a little banal at first, but it could be a market worth cornering in this climate. By making PPE more accessible in this way, children can be more comfortable during a confusing time and, in turn, we all benefit.
One sees masks more than the faces underneath these days. Half of these offer little protection, being cloth or paper only, but the gesture matters. A mask symbolizes personal protection but it also wards others away. To that end, this gargoyle masks offers mostly symbolic protection while presenting a less than welcoming look. Gargoyles in architecture, most famously Gothic cathedrals, were built to scare off evil spirits, be they devils or ghosts. Today, their fearsome aspect can promote social distance and perhaps keep some bad energy off us.
My
final project, features an eco-friendly and minimalist glove design. The
concept of an affordable, washable, and durable glove was inspired by looking
at my mom’s hands. Her hands have been rubbed raw from an excessive amount of
handwashing in an effort to prevent infection from the novel coronavirus. In
the photo, she holds a dinner fork in one hand and a remote control in the
other. These two stationary objects paired with her over washed hands
illustrate the new way of life we have adapted to: sheltering in place,
catching up on the latest Netflix shows, and taking extra precautions to
prevent sickness. I wanted to create an efficient and aesthetically pleasing
design that would lessen the number of times my mom would have to wash her
hands.
There
is a dearth of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the health care industry.
Doctors and nurses require nitrile gloves when working with ill patients, and
as the coronavirus continues to spread, their supply continues to diminish. To
preserve the nitrile gloves for those in the medical industry, I wanted to
offer the average, everyday person an alternative glove option. The outer layer
of the glove is composed of fabric as opposed to latex so that the glove feels
less cold and sterile and more familiar. A zipper repurposed from a dress is
sewn on the edge of the glove. This design element provides an additional layer
of functionality, as the zipper allows for a tailored fit around the hand’s
contour. The inner lining of the glove is a recycled Hefty bag and protects the
user’s hand from contamination. Efficient and hygienic, this glove comes in
blue, red, off white, and my personal favorite, black. Hopefully, my design
concept will help alleviate not only the anxiety surrounding the pandemic but
also the number of times we have to scrub our hands raw.
My goal for this mask was to use materials around the house to make a simple mask that is comfortable and provides the necessary elements of a functional face mask. I focused on three issues that myself and others run into with face masks; comfort around the ears, spacious, structure and coverage around the mouth, and color that can be worn with confidence; essentially I wanted to make a mask that people would feel comfortable in and not be inclined to touch and adjust. I find that when I wear face masks I feel crowded and claustrophobic around my mouth and irritated by the finicky ties. I do not enjoy wearing the medical masks because they are too bland and stigmatized, I wanted comfortable coverage that I could slip on over my face like a turtleneck or ski mask. I gathered some closed material that I had cut off the bottom of a cotton t-shirt and sewed down the center, this provided me with a band of clothing that I could pull over my head. This brought me to problem solve, how could I make trusty ear holes and structure around the mouth? I instantly thought of bathing suit padding that has the nearly perfect structure and thick material. I sewed a dart (a fold that comes to a point and sewn to create shape) in the pad to create the structure necessary for it to rest nicely on my nose and then sewed it into the fabric. Where my ears attach to my head, I cut vertical holes into the fabric and embroidered/enforced the edges to the slits did not continue to propagate and to provide structure so that it does not fall. This threading also provides a pop of color. The last predicament I ran into was the flimsy space under my eyes and around my nose, for this, I unfolded a paper clip and refolded it to fit to my nose, this provides adjustable structure for a more trusty face mask. It can be worn and washed by all genders with all different hairstyles. This face mask is comfortable, easy to make, customizable, and requires common household materials, in only a few steps.
