Design Ignites Change: Todays Reader, Tomorrows Reader

Rosedale: Content Spread Concepts

So far, for the activity book that we're making, is in the content pages stage of trying to gear the content around reading, aspirations, and dreaming. Right now we are working on way to foster a print to web interaction and find a suitable system to get the kids comprehension of what to focus on and which bits to share with the others. So far, we're working on instructions on specific pages that tell kids "scan this drawing and blog it online under the Drawing Page #3 post.

Here are a 2 different ideas/looks on how to structure the content:

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Rosedale: Branding 1st round

Here is the first concept for branding our reading initiative for the rosedale community. Johnna and I decided that an owl evoked everything we and the rosedale community wanted to obtain and promote throughout this campaign. An Owl is: wise, respected, soars (aspiration), fun, universal, the list goes on.

So we thought of stamping an owl icon on our booklet series.

Prototype Testing

Johnna and I went to Frank Rushton Elementary School today and met with a faculty member and around 10-15 energetic students, grades 3-5. 
Upon arrival, showing up almost late, the teacher took us into a classroom and quickly sorted a few students into a research group for us to test.

We asked the teacher about our book pocket interaction/exchange system and the essay/book-drive contest before we explained the book bag idea. He seemed intrigued by the book pocket idea, but I don't think he understood the depth that this analog conversation was an expansive "rosedale wide" circulation system, instead of just a Frank Rushton geared project.

We also talked about the book/essay contest, the teacher seemed to grasp that idea a little more and thought it would trigger more excitement with the kids, although it wasn't directly connected to reading, more that writing. But it is still an outlet for dreaming and creativity, so I don't think its completely ruled out. We test this idea with the kids, because we didn't think that this initial (paper prototype) round would receive much comprehension; so we asked the teacher instead.

The visual/video documenting was the book-bag and activity booklet. We got some great responses from the students.  We learned a great deal that these kids have a decent library source and love reading already, so we are directing our focus to the enhancement and further progression of dreaming and imagination nutrition. I think the initial activity book and book bag were a success, because when we asked for the activity books back, we walked out empty handed...

" they didn't want to give up their imagination outlets."

Rapid Prototypes: round01

Here is the Beginning of the book bag concept. Its a tangible artifact that acts as: an incentive souvenir, map to friendly library hubs, schedule for book club meetings, creative journal, and the bag itself is an icon of academic and creative excellence.

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Bag:

Map:

Map Detail:

Merit Badges/library hub locations:

In/out box, also schedule for meetings:

Creative Journal:

Complimentary starter book:

Symbol signage signaling library hubs that will accept the book bag exchange system:

All Artifacts:

External Conversations: Rosedale and Prototpye Brainstorming.

So far I've contacted Jane from the Rosedale Congregational Church, Wendy from the RDA, Joshua Rosedales new Vista. They have all given me a great deal of info on how many library hubs both church, community, and academic were willing to allow books to be checked out of their own pantry, but they haven't mentioned anything about hosting book clubs meetings, or just a general hub to facilitate some sort of book exchange meeting amongst community members. We have found out from Wendy that most schools wont allow general community members to check out books, so this helped narrow down our prototype solutions greatly. Josh and I started a little email brainstorming about how we can educate on the possibilities of current materials that the kids already have to create book bags, covers, creative activity books, etc to share with one another; and also as a creative outlet to express how they think and how they can build self confidence.

So far we have had no nibbles from our messages to Frank Rushton, T.A. Edison elementary schools, as well as the Librarian at the Dykes Library. But we are still pushing.

So so far, this info from Wendy, Josh, and Jane has helped us narrow our prototypes down to a book bag, with printed info of rosedale library friendly hubs, a book sleeves/checkout pockets for others to exchange creative comments on reading and relative information, and a book drive/essay writing event to promote reading and raise money for publishers to provide some key developmental reading books for rosedale and have the winning essays on "why i love to read" published somehow.

This is primarily what Johnna and I discussed last thursday and friday. We are currently building the prototypes, so we will see where it goes from here.

Week 6-7 Reading Response

Visual Advocacy: Week 7 Discussion
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The readings this week, for me, were sort of geared to strategy and how to provide/design the greatest solution for a given problem.
With the first reading, Jeffrey Sachs, he talked a lot about the financial support behind problems. Ho countries aren't donating enough and how physical support might be a better solution than just writing a check.

    Giving others money, in african countries, where is it going and how are they solving the problem with that money? Its almost going back to our previous discussion of how giving homeless people money might only result in them using it for alcohol, so we just don't give. But the same applies when we're spending this same money on the exact luxuries that they are.
    So whether its planned ignorance to the cause, or unknowing, we must  get others motivated by whatever means possible.I think that Jeffrey's cause here is making people aware and advocating/leading his flock of sheep through the receptivity gradient. The greatest thing we can accomplish is getting people out of the first stage; the more awareness = the more action towards the cause.

     It seems that whatever the 'cause' may be, we have a tendency to provide a solution instead of facilitating a solution. It goes back to the whole "teach a man to fish" idea, where you put the means and the tools into the hands of the effected. Only then, can we create a sustainable cycle of self-reliance and production. Nancy Padian talked a lot about this, and how cross disciplinary research of utilizing current resources that you didn't know were resources at all. Give the people ownership and then we can focus on the same cycle of other or more pressing causes.

It reminds me, like we discussed in class, of design systems class, you must give them a motivated product that inspires others to make that brand work and tangible. At the end of the day, your project is impacting real people.

I also had a "whoa/aha" moment when we brought up the question "what if my project only effects one person?" I think even it only effects one person, then it was a success, however not as successful as it could have been. I think its okay to build off of one persons response, but we must weigh and consider that this person might not be a qualified candidate to represent the group as a whole; so in the end, I think I will just be really careful with how i utilize my research. I don't think this reading/library campaign will reach everyone, but it might put enough motivation and creative tools to sustain itself within the community long after this semester.

This consideration of others and their dignity offers a problem, yet opportunity to facilitate our solutions and giving communities the realization that they can solve their own problems, give them confidence, and sustain healthy lifestyles. This is the greatest thing I've pulled from Richard Buchanan. New design thinking, and embracing function and using the content and form as communication tools for user centered and human-centered design. Creating this opportunity and outlet for others to create whatever they want using assets they already have, we build a new element of making whatever we want whether natural or a harmonizing emulation to nature by serving the greatest good. John Maeda, in his Manifesto, focused on this aspect, which makes me think how long will it be before we have the "apple iHeart, that bluetooth sincs with your adobe right-hemisphere brain that you just bought.

    There are only two designers, god and man, if god didn't design it then man did. So building our own worlds makes me think of infinite possibilities, yet focuses the appropriate solutions to something as simple as a book exchange system for a small community in kansas.

Brain Storming and Reference sources/ideas

ROSEDALE BRAINSTORMING AND PROBLEM IDEAS
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1. An activity book to hand out to kids that lets them color in things, draw photos, finish sentences, ect. This booklet will include goals, dreams, planners.
2. Reading exchange plan. Kids will be given a book with a pocket attached to the back of the book that has a paper of some sort in it. The paper can be a place for the kid to leve a note, message, picture in the book for the next kid who reads it to find and perhaps create a bond.
3. Traveling book club/ afterschool program. This would be where once a week a different location will hold the program. Will be a place for kids to go and read or interact with other kids. Perhaps a school bus will offer travel to the location each week.
4. Kids can create their own book, story all together, these will then be exchanged to each other to let kids read each others story.
5. Book bag as a keepsake incentive with in-going/out-going pockets. This book bag could possibly have a map with locations of library hubs within the community,
6. Social Networking Library Cards, YMCA card for libraries, affiliated with the 39th Street Crew. These cards will list book preferences, which library hub you are from, etc.
7. Book Club, common book distributed and discussed once a week at different locations.
8. Rosedale Mobius system, where kids can request books and once a week these books will be found by other libraries and transported/distributed to specific library hubs for pickup.
9. Designing a book drive to get donation for new materials. From country clubs, to bookstores, to local residents, we will try to create a city wide book drive so that rosedale children can have new material.
10. Have an essay contest of "why do you love to read" partner with organizations such as No Child Left Behind, to I Love To Read Literary programs. The winners and judges will process and publish.
11. Find a really important developmental book and write to the publishers as a tax-write-off to donate a number of editions to rosedale.
12. Public Domain books, can be published so much cheaper and easier through publishers and stores like barnes and nobles.

CONTACTS:
    Rachel - Rainbow Mennonite Church
    Jane - Rosedale Congregational Church
    Amy - Dykes Library (librarian)
    School kids in general
    Principals from elementary schools.
    Peggy - Kstate Research and Extension

SOURCES:
    Schools
    Libraries (not just in Rosedale)
    Bookstores
    Churches
    Web comparison  systems and studies.

QUESTIONS:
    What type of programs do you currently have in place?
    What types of materials and services do they provide?
    What seems to work?
    What are your thoughts on why these kids aren't reading?
        - accessibility (location, transportation)
        - substitutes (tv, internet, other activities)
        - motivation
    What do you see a lack of?
    What much traffic do you currently have with your materials/programs?
    Who else do you think will help, benefit, or be excited about this?

CURRENT PROGRAMS:
    Youth friends organization
    DIane Richardson -
    Megan - Phoenix Family Public Housing kids programs
    Rosedale ridge apartment developmental/after school program
    Quiet Time with kids
    Swope Reading Program
    Rosedale Congregational Church - Small Library
    Rainbow Mennonite Church - small Library
    RDA - open room for activities
    T.A. Edison elementary - library
    Frank Rushton - Library
    Rosedale Middle School - Library
    Boys Entrepreneurial Program
    Kansas City wide bookclub
   

Problem Statement Research: HKI

For Johnna and I, we researched a handful of similar case studies and literacy related reference material for our given topic on the Rosedale community issue. We have found several educational websites that support our thesis on reading being an essential developmental tool for a child's character and creativity.

Also our own Kansas School board and public education system websites give demographic and statistical reference to the current academic state that the Rosedale cluster schools are in.

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Reading is Fundamental

Indigo Love of Reading Foundation

Life Literacy Canada

Kansas Public Schools

Dykes Library

Rosedale Problem Statement Presentation: Reading as Character Building

Rosedale Problem Presentation

VA: Problem identification

Motivation and Mental Health.

Problem:
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Wendy and Heidi mentioned that one of the largest problems affecting the children in the Rosedale community is that they don't dream. I think one of the roots to this problem is that there isn't a healthy enough of an environment to 'create creativity.' With no libraries, home economics classes, or shop classes in schools or the community in general, there is the lack of education and lack of the presence of options for these kids; there mental health.

I think libraries and books provide children with a safe haven to foster individual though, imagination, and character development. They provide an outlet to find themselves and what they are passionate about, libraries to me and others were and are a vast menu of confidence and individuality within a larger community. The problem identified is lack of identity and creativity, whether libraries or literature in general, educate creativity, sports, nutrition, etc.

Audience & Research Areas:
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The Audience will target most elementary school children.

I think areas or audiences to start researching this specific problem can be found in educational facilities of all sorts:

Schools = teachers: direct education.
Churches = community, a place to congregate and that educates on faith and values.
Farmers markets = community: a place where there is an exchange of products, services, etc.

VA: Problem Finding

Problem Finding:

1. Communication:
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    There is definitely a disconnect in communication within the Rosedale community. From Getting peoples attention to the literal language barrier of different dialects and roots from different cultures and derivation.

- need a unified propaganda message
-eliminate multiple messages within the community
-create a common goal to end the disconnect and have and make community commitments


a) One issue brought up was communicating to community members, most of the time cell phone numbers are changed due to the affordability of prepaid cellphones and the convenience it provides. But those numbers have a communication shelf life that is very slim. Flyers aren't looked at or are trashed, people move without notice, and half of the community are med students who don't participate in the neighborhood culture that they live in.
   
The problem/solution seems to be attention, awareness, and retention. All members either aren't motivated by the messages to help the community, or don't even have the accessibility to these communication channels. The retention rate and awareness needs to be improved; for if you want to help the community in specific ways, you need to make sure that you can communicate and reach all of them first.

b) Language barriers, with an estimate of about 10 different languages spoken throughout the community, people aren't comprehending the typical english messages. Having this mindset, there is a loss of motivation to participate in community events and activities such as: farmers markets - they don't know which foods are local or in season, town meetings - can't understand what the issues are or read the flyers that go around saying what time and where, etc.



2. Motivation:
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    Without a dream, purpose or aspirations, kids don't have a motivation to make anything of themselves or participate/committ to their community. We need to give the children an outlet, confidence, and build an environment where they can dream.



3. Recreation:
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    Eating healthy is one thing, but participating in group activities give kids a sense of community, confidence, and physical health. The urban jungle/wildlife environment is in dire need of a remodel and structure. Providing a well maintained, safe, and inviting environment to be creative and active is   something that this community can benefit from.

- Your Space, creating plots for an outlet.
- Putting organics/wildlife in the urban community.
- No library, no education and instructional involvement.
- Safety, physical safety of individuals.
- Accessibility, one of the most important aspects, creates convenience and    physical outlets to reaching well-being and the rest of the community.