Seok Bee Beatrice Ng | 11158549
Persuasive Posters
This week's tutorial explores ideating and designing persuasive posters with the intention of empowering an environmental cause. The selection of a sustainable and environmental aspect from climate change, loss of biodiversity, sea level rise, the reef, stop damaging developments, to more-than-human-lives in the city, and more, will be made.
In acknowledgement that the above given topics are correlated and can be expanded on, I chose to proceed with the theme of "the reef". The first three images show sketches of poster ideas targeting three different target audiences - young adults (18 - 26 years), families with young kids (35 - 55 years old parents with young children), and individuals over the age of 70, respectively. The second last image presents the chosen poster design and choice of colour technique. Finally, image 5 reflects the chosen poster design in a collage format.
These posters are designed with the intention of generating awareness about coral reef's plight, with the hopes of facilitating a call-to-action from the audience perspective. Aligning to Australia's climate-change-emissions targets, this poster is designed to with the aim of diminishing the undesirable impacts on coral reefs and improving the ecosystem.
Initial Ideation: Brainstorm and Sketches
Images 1 - 3: Poster Ideas (Pencil or Sketch)
Poster Idea 1 - T.A:Young Adults
Medium: Mechanical Pencil
Process:
First, I started by choosing an environmental cause, namely, The Reef. As observed from the image above, I proceeded to brainstorm by jotting down ideas, including doodles of icons beside as a form of reference to the possible poster ideations might be. Using Pinterest, I gained the inspiration for this poster idea design. And finally, started sketching.
Concept:
This sketch illustrates the ecosystem in a plastic bleach container. The container is representative of the ocean and aquatic ecosystem. Where the symbolic imagery of "bleach", "fuel" and plastic serves to emphasise on the causes that harms the coral reefs' ecosystem which results in today's deterioration of thriving corals. The messy and condensed design is intentional. This is in hopes of reflecting the polluted ocean today. To have the poster memorable, the title of the poster "Our Bleach Fuelled Ocean" utilises a combination of situational irony, sarcasm and play-on-words to capture the audiences' attention.
Reflection:
Coral reefs are one of the most important aquatic habitats. With their awe-inspiring features, coral reefs are also popular tourist attractions. Moreover, the Queensland government plays a substantial role to support the protection, conservation and restoration of coral reefs (Queensland Government, 2023). Aligning this poster design to the objective of the Reef Restoration Adaption Program (RRAP), it serves to promote and highlight the awareness of deploring reef's state to young adults (18 - 26 years). This is in hopes of propelling young adult initiatives in saving the reefs.
https://gbrrestoration.org/
Poster Idea 2 - T.A.: Families w Children
Medium: Mechanical Pencil
Process:
Same as Image 1's process.
Concept and Reflection:
The objective is the same as Image 1's reflection but targets families with young kids (35 - 55 years old parents with young children). Thus, the utopian depiction is made to be child-friendly.
Cartoons generally provides a sense of escapism from reality through its conception of the alternative universe where children can be more creative and absorb in. The utilisation of bright, vibrant and attractive colours will be made to produce a more animated digitalised illustration. The title "REEFS" is a play on words on the word "if". The poster visualises an aquatic world where the corals are thriving. This is intended to have the audience visualise a world where coral reefs are thriving and where the aquatic ecosystem is prosperous.
Poster Idea 3 - T.A: Elderly
Medium: Mechanical Pencil
Process:
Same as Image 1's process.
Concept:
Reflection:
Objective is the same as Image 1's reflection. But targets individuals over the age of 70.
Image 4: Final Poster Version 1 + Choice of Colour Technique
Medium: Illustrator
- Mostly used the gradient tool for a more utopian and out-worldly effect.
Concept and Reflection:
Went ahead with Poster Idea 2 and designed it according to the AIDA (attention, interest, desire, action) framework. In hopes of capturing the target audience (families with children), attention and creating a lasting impression, I proceeded with a bright, complementary and polychromatic colour palette. Moreover, the bright colour palette is purposeful of reflecting healthy and thriving coral reefs. Utilising the gradient effect to conceptualise the notion of light. For instance, the purpose of having a light to dark (from top to bottom) is representative of sun/ light rays shining into the ocean that will be beneficial for corals survival.
In the sketch, the ideation was to have the title centred at the top of the poster. However, due to the gradient effect, it is less distinguishable. Thus, decided to shift align the title "REEFS" and its subtitle at the bottom left of the poster. However, after finishing the poster on the left, I felt that the layout of the poster was amiss. Thus, proceeded to switch from a vertical to horizontal layout.
Overall, the purpose of this poster was to be persuaded by eliciting a desire to protect the reefs by improving the conditions of the oceans that will be fundamental to improve the reefs' beauty and survival.
Image 5: Final Poster Version 2 - Collage.
Medium: Photoshop
Reflection:
Creating a collage image, I used Photoshop to facilitate with the final poster. From here, I learnt the utilisation of black and white images is easier to manipulate the desired colour of the final image. Thus, used a compilation of black and white reefs and aquatic life images. An area for improvement would be having textures added to the final poster.
