Presenting and consolidating my research and visual stimuli
So far I have spent the majoirty of my time in the research stage, I think this will be the most important part of the project, given that it is my final major project a complete and undisputable total understadning of light pollution is needed before visuals can even begin to be made to any successful degree, still, while reading papers and examining best practice is what my FMP has been so far, some of my work is when examining the best practice examples and any material, within the examination of the material for the main purpose of the theoretical there is alwasy oppotrunities for visual stimuli, I have found particular visual inspiration upon examination of Light pollution maps, these bright and interesting maps are live studies of light pollution across the world, they are information design and data visualisation in a universally understood format, with this in mind I think I should make note of the success of light pollution, they are not only assisting massively in the lack of studies for light pollution. This makes them massively important now, and possibly later, the bright and expressive colours and patterns spotted within the maps themselves could easily be seen within my own designs.
Light polltion maps interest me due to the fact that, while they are placed on top of a geographical map on the earth, the map background is hardly needed due to the spider web type patterns formed by large cities the locations of those cities can be navigated without names or titles clouding the colourful light pollution. the concept of having light overlayed an actual line drawing illustration and having the light itself form the borders and content could be used as an effective way to express the extent and intensity of light pollution throughout the world. the huge range of colours seen are sure to attract attention to material created while avoiding appearing too cliche by avoiding the placemnet of literal space and sky visuals to force audeinces to assosicate light pollution with the visual side of my campaign(s).
Light Pollution as a unique issue
Something else that I think is important to pick up on are the elements of light pollution that make it a unqiue issue, these elemtns make it stand out against other pollution related issues that the world faces.
It’s sensitivity is very unique, huge polluted and illuminated cities can exists almost adjacent to vast open areas of nearly 0 light pollution, so much so that nationall parks are able to achieve grade 1 status while the cities that surround them are far below the grade 9 status, this is all within the same country and so when changes are made by individuals, the impact is seen, and this impact is seen immediatley, I think this is key as capitalising on it and considering it when craeting my advocation campaign will allow me to play on the strenghts of light pollution advocation as well as avoid potential pitfalls with treating it as just another pollution issue to add to the list. This tangibility in the results of reducing light pollution should help to increase the motivation once inital action is taken and should be considered particularly within my user journey, this will make the scope and further outcomes that I create in the future become optimised in their effectivness and continue to actively engage a message of consistent interest with positive change in mind to my target audience, permenant city dwellers.
Looking up
My message is simple, I want a lowered level to light pollution to those who need it most however, I think I lack my way to get there at this point. As my campaign is centered around light pollution, the casting of wasteful light up into the sky that disrupts both astrophotography and natural bodily cycles I think that asking those affected to look up will hopefully bring them into consideration into the issue, indivduals are extremly busy now, and there is often a lack of pausing in life, a moment spent looking up and reflecting on what is above could help to connect with my audience and therefore allow my designs to have a greater impact, the act of looking up is also punchy to write as well as quick and achievalble by all, ensuring the largest audience are reached as possible. My content could potentiall reflect this, using the visual systems from light pollution maps may create the colour scheme, however focussing on the verticle and the expansivness of the sky above could assist in the creation of my format and further visual systems. I think this also links in well with my previous observation that light pollution is a unique type of pollution, containing a greater sensitivity and tangibility than most other forms of pollution that city dwellers come into contact with every day, extended verticle formats are unusual, although they do reflect the larger buildings found within cities everywhere it is not often seen in advertising, billboards are noramlly horizontal and signs usually square, this change of assumptions may help create a quick snap of attention to my designs over the clustered, busy scape of many cities.
Surprising Assumptions
This idea of executing work in such a way that it goes against my audiences assumptions in order to direct immediate attention could be extremly effective at gaining that inital participation from my audience, where intelligent and engaging design can then begin to work forming a key emotional connection to the widest ranged audience possible. This is already seen in my inital sentence for the project, ‘creating a darker future’ the subtle change in wording has already began to alter assumptions and get myself into the mindset of making a pollution campaign that strays from the usual, bland promises of a bright and fluffly future, directly reflecting the unqiue nature of the issue of light pollution in a modern age.
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