I have still not received a response from the Press of Atlantic City for information; I'm going to attempt to call them tomorrow if I still haven't heard back from them.
I did, however, manage to get in touch with someone from Clean Ocean Action, and we spoke for about 20 minutes. Zach, the person I spoke with, seemed very happy with the idea of me working with them to provide some graphic design support. I discussed some of my ideas with him, and he seemed to really like the idea of an infographic poster. He asked me to send him an email with all my thoughts and ideas so that he could pass it along to the person who works specifically with the beach sweeps, so I'm hoping I'll be able to have a meeting with them sometime early next week.
My research paper is about 2/3 of the way done; I got a little bit of a late start on it due to my initial indecision about a topic, but I think now I'll be able to get moving with the project itself.
Today I meet with my mentor at 12:30 and then Zatz at 1:20. I'm hoping to have my paper finished, but at least I have an idea, a project, and a direction.
For my reference - links:
NJ beachgoers leave nearly a half-million pieces of trash behind
Heroin, underwear among items found in New Jersey beach haul
Cape May Smoking Ban/Smoke Free Beaches
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Decisions and Research.
I think I've pretty much decided to go with the cigarette butt beach clean-up idea. I am attempting to get some information for that, but currently, any archived articles in the Press of Atlantic City that deal with the information would cost me $3 per article.
I've emailed an HR person at the Press and explained my project as well as the information I'm seeking, so we'll see if they get back to me.
In the mean time, I've been trying to pull what I can from various searches. I found some information about beaches in Sandy Hook, NJ, which is north of where I live.
"Clean Ocean Action, the environmental group that has been doing beach sweeps for 25 years, says in a report to be released Tuesday that an all-time high of 475,321 pieces of litter were removed from the state’s 127-mile shoreline last year. The 8,372 people who participated in spring and fall cleanups also set a record.
Plastics accounted for nearly three-quarters of the debris plucked from the beaches, with plastic caps or lids topping the list at 61,895. Miscellaneous bits and pieces of plastic were next at 51,249 items, followed by cigarette filters (an all-time high of 45,903), food wrappers or bags (43,113), straws or coffee stirrers (39,029), foam pieces (22,099), and bottles (18,212). Wood and lumber accounted for 10,384 items, followed closely by cigar tips (10,328) and shopping bags (8,619)." ( Article link)
So cigarette butts (filters) and cigar tips alone numbered over 56,000 pieces of litter that we collected by Clean Ocean Action last April. That's disgusting. That's about 443 cigarette butts/cigar tips for every mile of shoreline in the 127 mile long stretch!!
I've also contacted the group, Clean Ocean Action to see if they would like to partner with me on an awareness campaign, or if they need any graphic design support for their current campaigns. So we'll see where I go with this.
I've emailed an HR person at the Press and explained my project as well as the information I'm seeking, so we'll see if they get back to me.
In the mean time, I've been trying to pull what I can from various searches. I found some information about beaches in Sandy Hook, NJ, which is north of where I live.
"Clean Ocean Action, the environmental group that has been doing beach sweeps for 25 years, says in a report to be released Tuesday that an all-time high of 475,321 pieces of litter were removed from the state’s 127-mile shoreline last year. The 8,372 people who participated in spring and fall cleanups also set a record.
Plastics accounted for nearly three-quarters of the debris plucked from the beaches, with plastic caps or lids topping the list at 61,895. Miscellaneous bits and pieces of plastic were next at 51,249 items, followed by cigarette filters (an all-time high of 45,903), food wrappers or bags (43,113), straws or coffee stirrers (39,029), foam pieces (22,099), and bottles (18,212). Wood and lumber accounted for 10,384 items, followed closely by cigar tips (10,328) and shopping bags (8,619)." ( Article link)
So cigarette butts (filters) and cigar tips alone numbered over 56,000 pieces of litter that we collected by Clean Ocean Action last April. That's disgusting. That's about 443 cigarette butts/cigar tips for every mile of shoreline in the 127 mile long stretch!!
I've also contacted the group, Clean Ocean Action to see if they would like to partner with me on an awareness campaign, or if they need any graphic design support for their current campaigns. So we'll see where I go with this.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Breaking News!
I've written up 3 (because I'm indecisive like that) proposals for my senior project.
I've been really struggling with this; sometimes I feel more like I'm an artist than a designer - I just want to make beautiful things that catch people's attention. The idea of working with a non-profit to me felt limiting and kind of dull.
But as I was reviewing my proposals this morning, I remembered some work I had done last year for a non-profit based in Cape May, The Center for Community Arts. So I shot my contact over there an email to see if I can support them in any way. So we'll see. I'm so indecisive. But I know I want this project to be good; I want it to mean something, I want it to have some sort of impact in terms of it's design.
So, Zatz, if you're reading this, I have 3 proposals written, and a 4th idea that I just set into motion this morning. Yes, I am really indecisive. But this is the culmination of my 6-odd years at AiPH. I want it to be good.
I've been really struggling with this; sometimes I feel more like I'm an artist than a designer - I just want to make beautiful things that catch people's attention. The idea of working with a non-profit to me felt limiting and kind of dull.
But as I was reviewing my proposals this morning, I remembered some work I had done last year for a non-profit based in Cape May, The Center for Community Arts. So I shot my contact over there an email to see if I can support them in any way. So we'll see. I'm so indecisive. But I know I want this project to be good; I want it to mean something, I want it to have some sort of impact in terms of it's design.
So, Zatz, if you're reading this, I have 3 proposals written, and a 4th idea that I just set into motion this morning. Yes, I am really indecisive. But this is the culmination of my 6-odd years at AiPH. I want it to be good.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Countdown to graduation!
Welcome to my project blog! I have to come up with 2 idea proposals by Thursday for my senior project, and have been tossing around a couple of thoughts.
Idea #1: I've been working in cubical land for over 8 years - there are so many little etiquette things people seem oblivious to - like clipping your nails at your desk. REALLY? So I was thinking of a slightly tongue-in-cheek poster campaign to call attention to inappropriate office behavior.
Idea #2: The DOT recently redid the traffic circle by my work, making it the most ridiculously inefficient and ineffective traffic flow control system. I was tossing around the idea of designing some sort of signage or something to help handle the traffic and confusion. Not sure; ideally it'd be better to turn it back into a regular traffic circle.
Idea #3: Cigarette butts tossed on the beach. People do this all summer, and there used to be a group that would clean up the beach and give a final count at the end of summer in the newspaper to show how many butts were discarded. Maybe some sort of public awareness campaign and come up with a solution to where to dispose cigarette butts.
Idea #4: This one is more personal, but I was thinking of some sort of childfree thing. I'm childfree by choice - and it is a choice, just like having kids is a choice. You don't HAVE to have children, or feel forced into having kids thinking it's just something everyone does. Still trying to flesh this idea out a bit.
I've emailed one of my professors to see if they'll be my mentor for this project. Still waiting to hear back. I'm also hoping by the end of the weekend to have my ideas fleshed out and narrowed down to 2 so I can write up the project proposals.
Can I also just mention that I'm disappointed I won't be allowed to have friends or family there when I present? This is the big end, the culmination of a lot of hard work and over 6 years of school, and it'd be nice if it were more of an open event. When I defended my senior project in my first degree, biology, it was open to not only faculty and those evaluating me, but outside people and family as well.
Idea #1: I've been working in cubical land for over 8 years - there are so many little etiquette things people seem oblivious to - like clipping your nails at your desk. REALLY? So I was thinking of a slightly tongue-in-cheek poster campaign to call attention to inappropriate office behavior.
Idea #2: The DOT recently redid the traffic circle by my work, making it the most ridiculously inefficient and ineffective traffic flow control system. I was tossing around the idea of designing some sort of signage or something to help handle the traffic and confusion. Not sure; ideally it'd be better to turn it back into a regular traffic circle.
Idea #3: Cigarette butts tossed on the beach. People do this all summer, and there used to be a group that would clean up the beach and give a final count at the end of summer in the newspaper to show how many butts were discarded. Maybe some sort of public awareness campaign and come up with a solution to where to dispose cigarette butts.
Idea #4: This one is more personal, but I was thinking of some sort of childfree thing. I'm childfree by choice - and it is a choice, just like having kids is a choice. You don't HAVE to have children, or feel forced into having kids thinking it's just something everyone does. Still trying to flesh this idea out a bit.
I've emailed one of my professors to see if they'll be my mentor for this project. Still waiting to hear back. I'm also hoping by the end of the weekend to have my ideas fleshed out and narrowed down to 2 so I can write up the project proposals.
Can I also just mention that I'm disappointed I won't be allowed to have friends or family there when I present? This is the big end, the culmination of a lot of hard work and over 6 years of school, and it'd be nice if it were more of an open event. When I defended my senior project in my first degree, biology, it was open to not only faculty and those evaluating me, but outside people and family as well.
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