Homework Assignment A: Inspiration and Information

This week's homework assignment is meant to give us a greater understanding of what some people and organizations are currently doing today to address global concerns throughout the globe, and to give us greater understanding of the context of these situations. As well as inspire us to see some of the progressive thinkers of our day. 

The speakers we will watch vary from native peoples, social entrepreneurs, politicians, comedians, and beyond, all finding a way to use their skills for the greater good. Additionally, the approaches to development vary from speaker to speaker from government aid, to investing in education, to products to increase income and etc. Let us think about different forms of partnership, empowerment, and mutually beneficial investments. 

As you watch consider these questions: 

What global concern does the person discuss?

What is the main thesis and other important points and facts of their talk?

What country or region are they talking about?

What is the context?

Are there any specific numbers or statistics they discuss to convey their argument?

How does this person's talk or work relate to a UN MDG?

What type of emotion does the talk convey?

Develop one page 8 1/2" x 14" visually representing the talk and information discussed-as well as the emotional landscape. And be prepared to present your page and your thoughts on Tuesday. 

If there is a different speaker not listed here that you would like to research and present on, please contact me. Feel free to browse other TED talk and PopTech! speakers and explore as there are so many amazing ones to watch!

The suggested speakers below are more or less related to the following themes:  

Poverty:
Andrew Mwenda- Rethinking African Aid

Iqbal Quadir- How Cell-Phones are going to End Poverty. 

Jessica Flannery- Kiva.org

Education: 

Sugata Mitra- Can kids teach themselves?

Gender Equality: 

Eve Ensler- Finding happiness in body and soul

Child Mortality: 

Amy Smith- The Number one Cause of Infant Death

Maternal Health: 

At Highest Risk- YouTube

UN Millennium Campaign- YouTube

UNICEF- Child and Maternal Mortality

HIV/AIDS + Diseases: 

Emily Oster-  The Economics of AIDS in Africa

Zinny- Fighting HIV/AIDS in South Africa 

Bill Clinton- Clinton Global Initiative- Building Healthcare

Environmental Sustainability: 

The Story of Stuff- Annie Leonard

Al Gore- Averting Climate Crisis

Global Partnership: 

Patrick Awuah- training new leaders

Ray Avery- a social entrepreneur

Homework Assignment B: Compare and Contrast

Find two other astounding TED or PopTech! videos to watch that address an international concern. Compare the two, and how they relate and how the approaches to addressing the concern differ. Write about two paragraphs. To make the blog look more interesting, find an image or take a screenshot of the talk to add to your blog.

Come into class prepared to discuss your findings. 

Assignment C: Brainstorming and Blue Sky Ideation

Right after or while you watch your Talks, sketch out some blue sky ideas for products/services that relate to what the talk is about. This is your opportunity to be as out there as you want to be. Do about 10, or however many you want, scan them, and post them on your blog. (try to photoshop them a little bit first to adjust the levels so the drawing can be more clear and well presented.)

Bring in your sketches to share with the class and discuss. 

Have fun!

Assignment D: DeSE logo

In Illustrator, develop two new logo ideas to bring in next week and discuss. You can work individually or as a team. Consider some of the themes we discussed in class.

Below are some sketches from our first logo brainstorm we did in class.

Some things we liked and disliked: 

Like: simplicity, a unique form with the letter DeSE on the side, something that captures the emotion but doesn't have to be too literal. 

Dislike: Although we like the pyramid (and upside-down one too) idea it's hard to make a triangle look good. 

Day 2: Layout Parameter

Choosing a page layout for format consistency so we can put our research together for a collective book!

And the winner is: 

Page Size: 8.5" x 14"

Font: Arial

Margin: .5"

Day 2: DeSE Logo Brainstorm

UNMDG Research Questions

To view this week's research questions for homework, please click here.

All research from each goal must be visually represented using the format discussed in class, in a visually enticing way. Each student is responsible for researching the current situations in their chosen country in the context of each UN Millennium Development Goal. You will come into class on Thursday, Sept 18, with 9 printed pages, the first one being an overview of your chosen country including a map.

For links to factual information, please take a look at: WHO, World Bank, sourceOECD, CIA world Factbook, the Brown Library. You may use these as well as other sights on the internet. Please sight all your sources on a separate page for reference.

The material from this assignment will contribute to our class book, so please ensure there is visual clarity, as well as an enticing graphic style throughout your 9 pages of research. Please look below for information design inspiration.

Please post all pages of your research on your blog including an additional page siting your sources.

For information design inspiration please check out:

Edward Tufte books, Hans Rosling's TED talk, ManyEyes- IBM project, the Understanding book
and Read Write Web