HIV/AIDS

Here is the final rendition of my symbol.

Fri, 13 May 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Here is the final rendition of my symbol.

Here is another rendition of my logo, I decided that connecting...

Thu, 05 May 2011 22:39:00 -0400

Here is another rendition of my logo, I decided that connecting the circular form of the helped create a more fluid transition in reading and references a blood cell, as well as the unifying aspirations I have through this symbol.

Here is the first round of sketches and brainstorming for the...

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 13:28:10 -0400

Here is the first round of sketches and brainstorming for the narrative covering of this semester.

Here is the last portion of experimentation in Illustrator.

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 00:13:31 -0400

Here is the last portion of experimentation in Illustrator.

After making hundreds of sketches, I continued my exploration...

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 00:10:00 -0400

After making hundreds of sketches, I continued my exploration through Illustrator. In using a different medium I was able to approach the symbol with a new emphasis and breadth of experimenting with form, counter form, and color to name a few.

This is the further development taken from my previous sketches...

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 22:52:00 -0400

This is the further development taken from my previous sketches of making a symbol based on the way the word ‘AIDS’ is formed. I wanted to see the power not only of the large level but to explore if the smaller version held the same impact. Then I did a color study based off the literal interpretation of HIV/AIDS as well as organic, baroque and industrial interpretations (topics pulled out of a hat).

After studying the symbols I found in Afrikan Alphabets, I chose...

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 20:48:00 -0400

After studying the symbols I found in Afrikan Alphabets, I chose to approach designing a symbol for AIDS that was based on the way it sounds. While in Starbucks I repeatedly sounded out AIDS for a couple of hours, and based on the way my mouth and tongue opened, closed and moved was what I based each line off. At the top right of the page is where I began my study, developing further in trials down the page.

While researching pictorial languages, I came across the...

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 20:30:42 -0400

While researching pictorial languages, I came across the book Afrikan alphabets : The Story of Writing in Afrika by Saki Mafundikwa. I am captivated by the powerful forms whose meaning transcends such wildly different cultures (such as my own and the Bantu people). The way these simple symbols communicate despite cultural differences is intoxicating, informing my understanding of the purpose of a symbol.

expanding avenues

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 20:19:03 -0400

During brainstorming I found myself repeating the same concepts and struggling to approach the problem with fresh eyes and an open mind. The geometric forms I was choosing were based in the roots of my research. I pulled from the iconic Gran Fury pink triangle and focused on how other international symbols were effective, which were generally simple while concrete in form (such as the Red Cross symbol). But I wasn’t completely satisfied, as I believed there were other routes I should explore before finalizing the symbol. Wanting to expand on the beautiful geometry I was so attracted to, I decided to research pictorial languages.

Here are some sketches while brainstorming from a few weeks ago,...

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 20:04:10 -0400

Here are some sketches while brainstorming from a few weeks ago, around the middle of my search after the second round of critiques.

an absolutely stunning piece by Craig Ward and Ian Wright to...

Thu, 07 Apr 2011 23:15:10 -0400

an absolutely stunning piece by Craig Ward and Ian Wright to promote the work of AIDS charity (RED)

more of their work here

to see more about the (RED) Campaign here

This is one of the most beautiful visualizations on prevention...

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 01:42:43 -0400

This is one of the most beautiful visualizations on prevention methods. Teaming up with the Global Network of People Living with HIV, Dutch designer Leon Dijkstra created an outline introducing past, current and need for advances in prevention technologies.

to view the full PDF, go to New Prevention Technologies

for a deeper analysis on the reasons for the overall design, go to “How Graphic Design Can Help HIV From Spreading”

After finding a publication by the United Nations, I have enough...

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 01:09:29 -0400

After finding a publication by the United Nations, I have enough information to begin working on a project concerning contraceptive. I am working on creating a visualization of the data concerning contraceptive use, campaigns, accessibility, and the correlation between the HIV infection rate of different regions. By combining work in Illustrator with alternative processes in my Exploratory Drawing class, I hope to convey a large amount of information in a clear and engaging form.

Affirmation

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 00:47:50 -0400

Affirmation:

After spending hours upon hours studying statistics, I can’t express how greatly this story of success in HIV prevention in Zimbabwe encouraged me. Attributed to prevention programs and resulting shifts in sexual norms, the HIV infection rate has gone from 26% to 14% according to a survey by UNAIDS over the last twelve years. At the end of the article, UNAIDS stated “22 countries have reduced the rate of new infections by more than 25% between 2001 and 2009. These include several other countries with the region’s highest prevalence, including South Africa and Zambia. And in many cases, it is young people who are leading the ‘prevention revolution ‘and changing their behaviour by deciding to delay sex, having fewer partners and using condoms.” Reading the article was so affirming, lately I’ve been overwhelmed by the magnitude of my research. Learning about the success of people actively fighting against such a powerful epidemic reminds me of the possibilities and hope in the face of HIV/AIDS, and of the hope in my role and responsibility as a designer.

These are the sketches I created during my third set of...

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 12:11:39 -0400

These are the sketches I created during my third set of iterations. Trying to make the symbol compelling and easily understandable has been really challenging. Through this process I would ask students what made sense and had no need for explanation, and the last page is a compilation of what they responded to.

Here is my second set of iterations in response to the critique...

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 12:03:22 -0400

Here is my second set of iterations in response to the critique after brainstorming. The reason I chose to focus on the diamond and cross was in hopes of combining the already well known symbol of the red ribbon’s figure, one of the initial campaign’s triangle (Gran Fury) and with the internationally recognized red cross. The feedback I received was that they did not speak for themselves, that someone with no knowledge of the process would not be able to figure out it’s about HIV/AIDS, and that they read as medieval. Kristina encouraged me to incorporate these studies into a typeface, to include HIV/AIDS within the symbol.

In preparation for creating a symbol that communicates HIV/AIDS,...

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 13:34:57 -0400

In preparation for creating a symbol that communicates HIV/AIDS, our class did an exercise tracing arrows using the pen tool in Adobe Illustrator.

These explorations from my second page were the most heavily...

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 10:43:02 -0400

These explorations from my second page were the most heavily voted on in class. Drawing inspiration from the early eighties campaigns surrounding HIV/AIDS, such as Gran Fury, I chose to focus on the triangle. While evaluating one of the most well known symbols of HIV/AIDS, the red ribbon, I traced around and over it and saw the triangle forms and diamond around the ribbon. Taking from these two sources and the internationally understood red cross, I attempted to combine these forms to create a symbol which had a broader range of associations in hopes of reaching a broad audience. I chose to keep the shapes fairly simple as a way to allow the symbol to be reproduced easily whether by hand in undeveloped countries or through a computer. I also wanted there to be a high amount of energy through contrast to capture the hope and power of those fighting HIV/AIDS.

During the second half of the session I began to explore the...

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 10:35:00 -0400

During the second half of the session I began to explore the possibilities of the symbol, specifically using triangles and diamonds.

This is the first page of brainstorming session in class on how...

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 10:33:34 -0400

This is the first page of brainstorming session in class on how to visualize HIV/AIDS through a symbol.