Contemporary Topics

Professor Bosler

Research Possibilities

1. Changing our definition of hero/ine | Everyday superheroes/ Upstanders

Non-violent, everyday, heroes and heroines are more exciting to kids and adults because we all have the potential to be one.
Having characters related to children in their everyday lives, like family friends or even themselves.
Finding subject matter that is particular to bullying, being an upstander, effeminate, or issues that kids are picked on about (being different, being effeminate, being creative, being shy, being poor, OMG I could go on and on :(
Routing illustrations and characters in folklore rather than typical superhero, unattainable, virtues.

Possible projects:

A children's book about a little boy with rainbow shoes that he got from an artist (family friend) when he was down about being picked on for being shy, his rainbow shoes make him feel special unique and strong enough to stand up to his bully.
A graphic novel/zine about a group of kids in elementary school who are upstanders, like safety's but for anti-bullying. They are like a group of superheroes that help defend bullied kids and teach them how to defend themselves. At the end their group grows to 100% of the school.
A book or poster series where veggies are being bullied by junk food, but in the end the junk food makes people sick and when people choose veggies over junk food the junk food expires and dies (weird, this is a stretch).

Target audience:

Children from 3-10, parents of these children or people that purchase for children (extended family, teachers, etc.)

Upstander hero/ine

https://youtu.be/eeqQCyQOCPg

Marketing to girls as well as boys

http://www.ted.com/talks/christopher_bell_bring_on_the_female_superheroes?utm_source=tedcomshare&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=tedspread

Marketing healthy eating to kids

http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/07/07/484789101/want-kids-to-eat-more-veggies-market-them-with-cartoons

Smart illustrations using gender affiliated colors to show the marketing of gender stereotypes to kids

2. Advantages of illustration resurgence in advertising

Illustration can expand the range of conceptual solutions for advertising messages.
Illustration can invent a person who never existed, bring a dead person back to life, or depict a person whose age, race, or even gender is not identifiable.
It can portray fictional characters.

Possible projects:

A set of advertisements for the PA German Cultural Heritage center and their museum and events. They are grossly under-represented and it would be fun to do a series of advertisements for their fantastic program and facility. I know they can't afford much marketing, so I'm sure they'd love to collaborate. I love these! https://www.printcollection.com/collections/wpa-posters
Travel advertisements to visit the Oley Valley, Pennsylvania. Rich in history and culture it is also an under-represented but gorgeous and magical place to visit. Possibly a really cool illustrated map with great hidden treasures to visit. Amazing illustrated maps! http://www.digitalartsonline.co.uk/features/illustration/30-brilliant-tips-for-creating-illustrated-maps/#30
A flyer about hands-free time with your kids. Just a visual reminder to put down your phone because it's difficult sometimes to realize how much time we spend on our phones. Target audience: Parents at parks or at stores, guerrilla marketing - just handing them out.
Marketing flip, marketing typically girl's toys to boys and vice a versa! for Target, naturally ;)

Target audience:

Everyone, especially if a billboard or poster (possibly college students and professors if we put them on campus)

Why use illustration in advertising

http://www.theinformedillustrator.com/2014/11/why-use-illustration-for-advertising.html

Love this- it needs updating! hands free visual impact message

3. Sustainable design, specifically to print and creating children’s books

The design community’s deep-rooted desire to lessen our impact of print materials on the planet
Work with paper suppliers to improve the environmental credentials of paper products. Using 100% recycled paper for books.
Informing the public and children of the issues and possible solutions

Possible projects:

A children’s book about preserving our land, planting your own garden, garden to table, the book is actually plantable (?!!!) "GROW YOUR OWN FOOD" plantable veggies paper!!
Printing a book on handmade papers from up cycled worn out clothing (which is a big problem because textiles can be recycled but aren’t)
A flyer that is plantable that illustrates easy ways that we can use less paper
A huge silhouette illustrated tree installation that shows the impact of unnecessary printing on the environment (with illustrations within the tree and hand lettered words). Possibly installed at an elementary school or library (?).

Target audience:

Children from 3-10, parents of these children or people that purchase for children (extended family, teachers, etc.)

Effective visual message A plantable paper!!!!! What?!!!

https://www.barefootbooks.com/about-us/sustainability/

https://prepsgroup.com/home