Assignment 5: Step down on carbon! (Part 2)

Given the feedback from my tutorial and some reflecting on my first draft, I decided the design could be further enhanced. I started by experimenting with various arrangements to explore the space.

I felt that although my first draft managed to spread the points out in a neat and organized manner, it didn’t suit the feel of a journey towards a more pleasant environment which was what I wanted to achieve. I decided that the footprints should be placed along each step that will lead to an “end point” in the form of the happy, healthy earth. To accentuate the contrast between the “start” and “end” of the journey, I desaturated the sick earth as well. After moving things around, I settled on placing my points in a “C” shape to emphasize my point on Carbon. The “C” shape is made more striking with the footprints that also, symbolic of reducing Carbon footprints, are getting smaller along each step of the way.

Right now the infographic looks more complete and each element has more purpose. I believe the overall design now promotes the simplicity and fun for the average person to reduce their carbon footprint.

Assignment 5: Step down on carbon!

So I would say this is by far the most challenging assignment. Firstly, I’ve recently converted to an atheist when it comes to climate change, no thanks to the climate gate saga. Secondly, I knew little about climate change beyond the climate gate controversy. And last but not least, the idea of probably having to illustrate everything from scratch for this assignment put me off.

I faced this challenge by first reading on climate change and ways to prevent it. After browsing several articles, I decided to go with a “how-to” type of infographic. Basing my information on this and this, I came up with the 5 most visually expressible and accessible things individuals can do to reduce their carbon footprint.

1. Opt for public transport
Showing how a bus can take more people than a private car

2. Save electricity
A power switch being turned off

3. Be an activist
Icons of people holding green pro-environment signages

4. Plant a tree
A spade with a plant growing out from some soil on the spade

5. Eat more greens and less meat
Vegetables “standing” and stepping on a piece of meat

Once I had my 5 points, I needed to link it back to climate change and came up with the most obvious way by putting a “sick earth” and a “healthy earth” to illustrate the results of the actions I want to promote. Here’s what my initial draft looked like:

My classmates suggested that I put a background to it as it looks quite plain right now, and also try exploring other arrangements for the illustrations. I personally also would like to change the title font. The footprints that represent “carbon footprints” could also be rearranged in a more organized path around the canvas and not just the top alone.