Task One
- I chose to design a logo for Principle #1, Observe and Interact. To be honest, the biggest reason I chose this principle is that I love drawing eyes but would still provide a challenge to make it unique since eyeball logos are common. I love a good drawing challenge. Observing and interacting are the basics of learning and empathy. It's the building block for the other principles. I put that into consideration when I was making my first rough sketches. I knew from the beginning that I wanted to draw an eye. Eyes are associated with observation. The hardest part was figuring out the style. I think that eyeball logos tend to look the same and I am indifferent to corporate-style logos since most of them tend to lack character in my opinion. I was sacrificing a clean, crisp logo but I do not regret it. I wanted an organic shape that had some slight imperfections. Childhood development is based on interacting and observing. I thought it fit with my prompt so I continued the designing process with a child audience in mind. I modeled the logo after childhood curiosity. A little eye curiously looking up at the magnifying glass he is holding in wonder. Some feedback I received also interpreted the magnifying glass as him looking in a mirror, or him exploring. He has a bright playful color palette made up of mostly primary colors. Primary colors just fit the building blocks theme of the prompt. I provided a grayscale version as well. Overall, I am pretty happy with the direction I ended up taking. I kind of miss logos like these.
- A curious little eyeball looking through a magnifying glass that he is holding up.
Task 2
There is no dought in my mind that the addiction to technology is rapidly growing and causing a lot of harm to both the physical and mental well beings of humans. It's very real and there is no denying such. However, it is often the consumers alone that are blamed for the rapid consumption of media that we consume daily. My intention is not to completely remove the responsibility off of the consumers, they are part of the problem too, but addiction cannot just start on its own. That's stupid to think. In every case of addiction, there is a supplier and/or an enabler. They have to have gotten it from somewhere. In this case, consumerism is both the supplier and the enabler. You have seen adverts like, "New!" or "You need this!". There is also a level of peer pressure when it comes to consumerism. Suddenly, everyone needs the latest tech and if you don't get it now you are a loser. Getting new tech every time something new comes out has become so normalized that I have met people who were surprised that I don't buy the latest iPhone or the Nintendo switch. Not to flex, but I already have a 3DS that still works, I'm good. Anyways, everyone says "just quit" or gives generic advice to an addict on how to get better, but as long as there is supply there is a demand, and vice versa. It's also the supplier/enabler's responsibility to know what is best for the addict and acknowledge the self-destructive harm that they created and pushed onto the addict. Again, that's not to say that the addict isn't an innocent party in this conversation. I just know that the addict side of the conversation will be talked about the most while glazing over the enabler side. I believe that there are two sides to this destructive behavior. We don't necessarily have to completely get rid of consumerism entirely. Perhaps all both parties need is to learn moderation. Consumerism is guilty of this because of its fast nature, pushing the newest tech in your face. Here is a theory, if Consumerism were to slow down and let us actually enjoy a product for a few years, rather than less than a week, things might be different but for the better. Life moves too fast these days as a whole. Twenty years is not old, it's barely a quarter of a century.
Task 7
Innovative design: As unoriginal as it is, what if there was an app that is specifically designed to encourage authentic and meaningful connections between individuals?
Upgraded criteria: I have chosen to focus on the category of "Social Reasoning" because I believe that fostering genuine connections with others is essential for human well-being and happiness. In today's digital age, it can be easy to get caught up in the superficial interactions and comparisons that often dominate traditional social media platforms. The app aims to combat this by promoting self-reflection and self-expression in a way that encourages users to be vulnerable and authentic with one another.
Supportive context: In the world in which the app exists, all companies are required to be B-corporations, meaning that they are legally committed to the well-being of the ecosystem, the community, and fair livelihoods for all employees. This supportive context helps to ensure that the app is able to thrive and make a positive impact on society.
Weigh costs: The expected costs of developing and maintaining the app will primarily be in the form of labor and materials. However, we will have to learn to minimize our environmental impact and ensure that the app is accessible to as many people as possible. To this end, it will prioritize using eco-friendly materials and implementing energy-efficient processes in the development and maintenance of the app. Additionally, offering the app at a reasonable price point ensures that it is accessible to a wide range of users.
It might have a chance at working. There is a service called BetterHelp that is very popular and actually helps people. It just needs the right, unbiased, people to keep it running. Which is unfortunately easier said than done.
Task 10
(meme task)
Honestly, it's the same exact message. It's just presented differently. The bad meme does acknowledge that there may be a problem, but the person is so addicted that they hesitate. The "touch grass" is a reference to the generally negative reaction that some people give to people that are addicted to technology. With that negative reaction, the addicted person in question may become their safe space. So the first meme will probably never end with a positive result. The good meme is more personal. The addicted person is taking a step back and acknowledging their problem. It's easier for them to see what is wrong, what's the cause, and what choices they have. They can either continue the cycle or take a much need break for their mental health.
Unfortunately, since bad news sells the best and will always be over-exaggerated, replacing it with good news will not be easy. It's way too easy to spread misinformation. The best way to deal with bad news will probably be to take a step back to fact-check. It's better to take things with a grain of salt that to read a title of an article and then vent about it instantly to your Facebook group.
Credits:
Created with images by Anatolii - "Beautiful pink roses." • makistock - "Donuts with icing on pastel pink background. Sweet donuts." • Floral Deco - "Pink rose flowers bouquet on pink background. Flat lay, top view minimal floral composition." • LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS - "Tasty sweet pink french macaroons on pink background" • finepoints - "Paper pink hearts fly on soft pink color background, border, copy space. Valentine day concept for design." • powerstock - "Balloons on pink background" • Maksim Shebeko - "coffee in pink pastel table top view" • Hazal - "Female sport equipment on a pink background " • Alexandr_DG - "Birthday pink cake, decorated with meringue cookies on a pink background." • Atlas - "Scented candle for relax on pink background" • Atlas - "Female hand hold shop bags on pink background" • Ruth Black - "Pink cupcake with sparkler"