Thought Paper #2

            This poster demonstrates the slogan “Make Love, Not War” of the sixties when the people were protesting the Vietnam War. It is an example of design as social change because it shows how the people in society really don’t want war, but how government obviously overrides it. I think it is an example of the people coming together and forming a voice through the means of design. It is social change because instead of letting government do whatever they want, it is sort of making everyone aware that we, the people, still have a voice. The change might not be the government changing their minds, but it is in society where we can voice our opinions and possibly press the government for change instead of just being quiet on the sidelines. It has also inspired other movements similar to those against other wars or call for change like Richard Kamler’s “Make Bread Not Bombs” project.

            For Project 1, I chose to do the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Awareness campaign. This campaign has found multiple ways to create social change in the awareness of breast cancer. Through walks, t-shirts, bags, and much more paraphernalia, the world has definitely become more aware of breast cancer. Not only that but the support has grown tremendously. This campaign shows how design can create a social change in support of something that needs attention. I think another wonderful aspect to the campaign is that it sort of creates acceptance of the disease in a positive light rather than a negative. What I mean by this is that breast cancer isn’t really looked at as an evil killing disease; rather it is something that people fight and supporters support those who are fighting it. It brings togetherness under poor circumstances, while keeping the morale high and positive.