{"id":248,"date":"2025-08-27T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-27T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/mma235-spring2025\/?p=248"},"modified":"2025-08-27T06:51:18","modified_gmt":"2025-08-27T10:51:18","slug":"mma235-weeks-1-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/mma235fall2025\/2025\/08\/27\/mma235-weeks-1-4\/","title":{"rendered":"MMA 235 – Weeks 1-4"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Welcome to MMA 235!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Assignment #1 –<\/strong> let us discuss – and get familiar with our class this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Designing for Impact: Creating a Social Issue Awareness Poster<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Posters have long been a powerful tool for social change, used to educate, inspire, and provoke action. Whether addressing climate change, mental health awareness, or equality, graphic designers play a crucial role in shaping public discourse through visual communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let us explore how to create an impactful social issue awareness poster, drawing inspiration from historical design movements and modern examples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Power of Posters in Social Movements<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From wartime propaganda to contemporary activism, posters have been central to mobilizing change. Some of the most influential social posters include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 \u201cWe Can Do It!\u201d (Rosie the Riveter, 1943)<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 A symbol of women\u2019s empowerment and workforce participation during World War II.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Silence = Death (1987, ACT UP)<\/strong> <\/a>\u2013 A striking pink triangle on a black background, demanding action during the AIDS crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Shepard Fairey\u2019s \u201cHope\u201d Poster (2008)<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 A modern political icon that became synonymous with Barack Obama\u2019s campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each of these designs shares a clear message, bold visuals, and strong emotional impact<\/strong>\u2014key ingredients for an effective social awareness poster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step-by-Step: Designing Your Social Issue Poster<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Research & Ideation: Finding Your Cause<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start by selecting a social issue that resonates with you. Some current topics include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 Climate Change<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 Mental Health Awareness<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 Human Rights <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 Digital Privacy <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inspiration Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Explore posters from Amnesty International<\/strong>, UNICEF<\/strong>, and Greenpeace<\/strong> for compelling messaging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Check Pinterest<\/strong> and Behance<\/strong> for trending activist posters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udd17 Resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Amnesty International Campaigns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Behance Social Issue Posters<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Concept Development: Sketch & Plan<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you\u2019ve chosen your topic, sketch rough ideas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Think about:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Symbolism:<\/strong> What imagery best conveys your message? (e.g., melting ice caps for climate change)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Typography:<\/strong> Will you use a bold, sans-serif font for urgency or a softer typeface for empathy?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Color Psychology:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Red:<\/strong> Urgency, passion (e.g., protests, warnings)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Blue:<\/strong> Trust, calmness (e.g., mental health, unity)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Black\/White:<\/strong> Stark contrast for powerful, minimal designs<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Digital Draft: Bringing It to Life<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, (or draw by hand, useProcreate, sketchbook or adobe fresco<\/strong>) to create a digital draft. Test different compositions, focusing on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 Visual Hierarchy:<\/strong> The most important element should grab attention first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 Alignment & Spacing:<\/strong> Avoid clutter\u2014let your design breathe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 Contrast & Readability:<\/strong> Ensure text is legible from a distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Feedback & Refinement: Test Your Design<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before finalizing,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ask:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Does the message come across clearly?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Is the color scheme effective?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Does the typography enhance or distract from the message?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Final Execution: Polish & Prepare for Print<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once refined, export your poster from Adobe Illustrator as a high-resolution (300 DPI) PDF with proper CMYK color settings for print. I will also show you how to export a .JPG file.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mockups Matter!<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Present your work using real-world mockups<\/strong> (e.g., posters on a subway wall, billboards, or community boards) to show its impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udd17 Mockup Resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Freepik Poster Mockups<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Mockup World<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Graphic Burger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Historical Design Influences<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your design can take inspiration from three major historical movements<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Swiss Style (International Typographic Style)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key Features:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2714 Clean layouts<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2714 Grid-based structure<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2714 Sans-serif typography<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udd8c Example:<\/strong> Josef M\u00fcller-Brockmann\u2019s posters <\/a>used bold type and minimal graphics for maximum clarity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udd17 Learn More:<\/strong> Swiss Style Posters<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Constructivism (Bold, Geometric, Revolutionary)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key Features:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2714 Red, black, and white color schemes<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2714 Strong diagonal lines<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2714 Political themes<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udd8c Example:<\/strong> El Lissitzky\u2019s propaganda posters featured dynamic compositions with strong visual impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udd17 Learn More:<\/strong> The Influence of Constructivism<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Postmodern Design (Expressive & Experimental)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key Features:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2714 Playful use of typography<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2714 Collage aesthetics<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2714 Breaking the rules of traditional design<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udd8c Example:<\/strong> Paula Scher\u2019s work for The Public Theater showcases<\/a> bold typography with chaotic yet controlled layouts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udd17 Learn More:<\/strong> Paula Scher\u2019s Typography<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Final Thoughts: Make Your Poster Stand Out<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your social issue awareness poster<\/strong> has the potential to make an impact beyond the classroom. Whether exhibited in a gallery, shared on social media, or printed for protests, design can drive change<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Welcome to MMA 235! Assignment #1 – let us discuss – and get familiar with our class this week. Designing for Impact: Creating a Social Issue Awareness Poster Posters have long been a powerful tool for social change, used to educate, inspire, and provoke action. Whether addressing climate change, mental health awareness, or equality, graphic … Continue reading “MMA 235 – Weeks 1-4”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"portfolio_post_id":0,"portfolio_citation":"","portfolio_annotation":"","openlab_post_visibility":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5,1],"tags":[15],"class_list":["post-248","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-assignments","category-uncategorized","tag-mma235"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/mma235fall2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/248","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/mma235fall2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/mma235fall2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/mma235fall2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/mma235fall2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=248"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/mma235fall2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/248\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":414,"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/mma235fall2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/248\/revisions\/414"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/mma235fall2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=248"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/mma235fall2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=248"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/mma235fall2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=248"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}