Paper Chase 2006 Weblog - Statement 11/2006

Paper Chase 2006, a week long recycling re-education plan

...is a multi-media event developed to address unnecessary paper waste within the campus community of the International Academy of Design and Technology of Chicago. Students have worked to create awareness of this problem by designing methods of promotion to encourage change and responsible use of paper.




Originally a project assignment for the Designing the Future Viscom class organized by faculty leader Merry-Beth Noble, Paper Chase was a collaborative solution to a local problem using the vehicle of design. After working in team groups, students were asked to create a multi-dimensional marketing campaign to publicize their solution to the problem of staggering paper overuse and mis-use on campus. Teams planned the specific aspects of the campaign message, which were then produced by the class as a group. Project activities included branding and logo design, posters printed on used paper, 3-D displays, poetry and animation.

Paper Chase is modeled after successful advertising campaigns, requiring negotiation and teamwork between diverse types of people. It also emphasizes responsible decision-making today as a key to creating a better future tomorrow. We hope that by communicating the valuable message of paper conservation with creativity and style, these ideas will have an impact beyond the campus community. By becoming a part of the SAIC community now as an interactive weblog, Paper Chase will continue to provide a collaborative forum for dialog about concerns of waste and the desire for positive change.

Student Participants:

Bryneal Alvarado
David Castro
Ramon Cervantes
Cara Dudik
Brenda Iniguez
Brendan Inskip
Guillermo Lopez
Allison Lutze
Brook Rhodes
Jon Roberts
Lynnea Smith
Mike Stegall
Gabriel Vargas
Tyiesha Warren

This project was generously supported by Carolyn Ou, Program Director,
Department of Visual Communications
International Academy of Design & Technology, Chicago
and The Curators of the Negotiated Localities Exhibition
at the Betty Rymer Gallery of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago