Interested in Graphic Design as a Service to Others?
For 2009-2010, I was the fortunate recipient of a grant to encourage me to infuse service learning into my graphic design courses. While I have done this for close to ten years, by choice, it was definitely encouraging to have some funds to pay for this effort, and to expand upon what I have implemented in the past.
Past service learning design class projects have included: Alcohol Use Social Norms Program, Sexual Abuse Awareness Program, Scranton Summer Theatre, La Plume Bi-Centennial Celebration, and Keystone College Environmental Sustainability Program.
The results of these efforts after the first semester of this confirmed infusion of service learning into the graphic design program at Keystone College is that the Presbyterian Church Camp located near Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania now has several system designs to choose from for their 2010 promotions. These artifacts were designed by my Graphic Design Senior Seminar students. This partnership with Camp Lackawanna has provided these design students with a real-world experience with real clients from the Camp Lackawanna marketing and promotions committee. These three Camp Lackawanna committee members: Ms. Mary Ann Nichols, Ms. Lorrie Loughney, and Mr. Ed Cole provided all background information for students: Stacey Ciccone, Kerri Green, Shawn Killian, Jocelyn Pesansky, Desiree Prush, Danielle Summa, Leann Diehl, Kelli Harper, Brandon Szuch, and Vanna Zonna to work with. These students were provided with an outstanding opportunity to be designers and to provide the artifacts necessary to complete the Camp’s system design. These artifacts included: logos, mailers, brochures, a map, websites, an animation, a trail game, newsletters, and more. The full Camp Lackawanna committee is now considering designs for use to promote the upcoming summer camp and year-long camp programs, and depending on which designs are chosen, these seniors will continue the project into the spring 2010 semester.
We anxiously await the outcome.