Autumn Mariano
Visual Communication Emphasis
Design is a powerful tool that can be used to reshape the world and how people interact with it and each other. It has the ability to influence people to do good. I believe that visual communication and design thinking can make social change happen. I didn’t always see it this way though.
Visual Communication Emphasis
Design is a powerful tool that can be used to reshape the world and how people interact with it and each other. It has the ability to influence people to do good. I believe that visual communication and design thinking can make social change happen. I didn’t always see it this way though.
During my first semester at Weber State, I was part of a book club that was discussing a book about sustainability. Afterwards, I was having a conversation with the geology professor who had been leading our meeting. He asked me what I was majoring in, and I told him I was interested in the graphic design program. Immediately after that I added, “but I think I might want to do something a little more important, something that will make a difference.” What he said next changed my entire outlook on the field of design and my future career. He told me that design is fundamental to environmental efforts, or any cause for that matter. He explained that someone could have the most impactful idea in the world, but it’s useless if no one knows about it. It’s up to designers to give voice to messages that might otherwise be overlooked or unnoticed. That moment lit a fire underneath me that has fueled my passion and enthusiasm for design ever since.
My biggest influence has been contemporary American designer Noah Scalin. In 2001, Scalin founded Another Limited Rebellion, a socially-conscious design firm. This firm is dedicated to creating high quality artwork for clients who share their views on social responsibility. Aside form the incredible philosophy of this firm, I am also inspired by the design work that comes out of it. Their work is always conceptually strong and uses photographs of found object configurations, paper cut outs, and illustrations to make their designs come to life.
Scalin is also the co-author of the Design Activist’s Handbook. In this book, he explains that everyone can be a design activist, you just need to start small and set attainable goals. He emphasizes that it’s possible to align your career with your values making it so you can feel good about the work you do and the impact it has.
Now more than ever is the time to be a design activist. It’s become easy for designers to distribute their work to wider audiences using the internet. This is an exciting idea to me. It’s what motivates me to work hard in school and learn to be a great visual communicator. The messages I choose to convey deserve the most effective champion they can.
Things like color, type, composition, strong concept and bold imagery working together speak to people like nothing else does. It moves them, influences them. As designers, we need to use our creative persuasiveness to make a positive impact. I hope that throughout my life I am able to work on projects and with clients who share this belief and passion.
