Process Book Carissa Atrianty Communication Design 3 Ramone Munoz Term 3
Introduction to the Project
In Communication Design 3 that I’m taking this term, we all had to choose an interesting and sort of controversial topic and do a research on it. Afterwards, we would expand the research, choose a stance, and translate it into 3 poster series (Objective rant, visual rant, and typographic rant). Then we expand the poster series into a booklet. The topic that I’m choosing for this entire semester project is Euthanasia. I’ve been drawn to the topic of Euthanasia for a while due to its taboo nature - since it deals with life and death. Despite many people are against this practice (people call this practice as a form of playing God since this practice allows humans to take charge of life and death), some places in
the world still conduct this practice, this practice is even legal in those specific own geographical areas. Interesting, isn’t it? Up until now, Euthanasia has created two strong stances that are debating against each other. Most people who are against it are people with strong religious beliefs and believe such practice is synonymously as taking charge as God. However, some who are for it are people who have strong ideation and believe that putting sick people under life support will only make them suffer even longer. WHY I’M PRO-EUTHANASIA Personally, I believe that Euthanasia should be legal under special circumstances: if the patient has been in critical condition
for several days in a row and if the patient shows no progress despite being treated with many medications. That makes sense to me because if the patient has been treated in the hospital for days in a critical condition for days but showing no progress despite any kind of effort, that will just make the patient’s family pay more for the hospital stay - and we all know that a hospital stay is not cheap. Some people from a different economy level definitely have difficult situation in that. So I believe that euthanasia practice should be conducted under circumstances that I have mentioned, and only if those circumstances have been observed and validated by professional doctors.
Research
Euthanasia, also known as assisted Oregon (USA) and Washington suicide, physician-assisted suicide (USA). (dying) , doctor-assisted dying (suicide), and more loosely termed mercy killing, • Involuntary euthanasia basically means to take a deliberate action euthanasia is conducted without with the express intention of ending a life to consent. The decision is made by relieve intractable (persistent, unstoppable) another person because the patient suffering. Some interpret euthanasia is incapable to doing so himself/ as the practice of ending a life in a herself. painless manner. Many disagree with this interpretation, because it needs to include a There are two procedural classifications of reference to intractable suffering. euthanasia: In the majority of countries euthanasia or assisted suicide is against the law. • Passive euthanasia - this is According to the National Health when life-sustaining treatments Service (NHS), UK, it is illegal to help are withheld. The definition of somebody kill themselves, regardless of passive euthanasia is often not circumstances. Assisted suicide, or voluntary clear cut. For example, if a doctor euthanasia carries a maximum sentence of prescribes increasing doses of 14 years in prison in the UK. In the USA the opioid analgesia (strong painkilling law varies in some states (see further down). medications) which may eventually There are two main classifications of be toxic for the patient, some may euthanasia: argue whether passive euthanasia is taking place - in most cases, • Voluntary euthanasia - this is the doctor’s measure is seen as a euthanasia conducted with consent. passive one. Many claim that the Since 2009 voluntary euthanasia term is wrong, because euthanasia has been legal in Belgium, has not taken place, because there Luxembourg, The Netherlands, is no intention to take life. Switzerland, and the states of
• Active euthanasia - lethal substances or forces are used to end the patient’s life. Active euthanasia includes life-ending actions conducted by the patient or somebody else. Active euthanasia is a much more controversial subject than passive euthanasia. Individuals are torn by religious, moral, ethical and compassionate arguments surrounding the issue. Euthanasia has been a very controversial and emotive topic for a long time. The term assisted suicide has several different interpretations. Perhaps the most widely used and accepted is “the intentional hastening of death by a terminally ill patient with assistance from a doctor, relative, or another person”. Some people will insist that something along the lines of “in order relieve intractable (persistent, unstoppable) suffering” needs to be added to the meaning, while others insist that “terminally ill patient” already includes that meaning.
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Typographic Rant Poster
I N S P I R AT I O N
SKETCHES
IS
DEATH REALLY
MOCK-UPS For the mock-ups, I made three variations. However, it came to my realization that these posters depict euthanasia as a fearful thing, which contrasts to my stance (pro-euthanasia). Therefore, the poster concept was redone.
THAT
BIG OF A
DEAL ?
FINAL COPY Following the critique on the mock-up the week before, I decided to change my poster concept and make it look peaceful and pristine - even to resemble a hospital poster. Using light marine blue color that I decided to establish as part of the color pallette, the poster is expected to convince the audience that euthanasia is nothing to be afraid of.
IS DEATH REALLY THAT
BIG
OF A DEAL?
Visual Rant Poster
I N S P I R AT I O N
SKETCHES
MOCK-UPS
New Concept
I N S P I R AT I O N For my new concept, I decided to experiment more with metaphors. In this concept, I compare a patient being released from pain of the life support with a pigeon (the symbol of peace) being released from the cage (pain) after being plugged off from the life support.
H A N D D R AW N APPROACH People deserve the explicit right to die
MOCK-UPS The pigeon in the cage: patient in pain The pigeon released from the cage: the patient is released from the pain through euthanasia.
FINAL COPY Letting go isn’t always the worst choice Since I couldn’t really decide which approach I should take, I decided to come up with two different approaches for my concept: vector art and handdrawn.
Objective Rant Poster
I N S P I R AT I O N
SKETCHES
The right to live or die
EUTHANASIA FINAL COPY
ARGUMENTS BASED ON RIGHTS
PLACES THAT HAVE LEGALIZED EUTHANASIA
People have an explicit right to die A separate right to die is not necessary, because our other human rights imply the right to die Death is a private matter and if there is no harm to others, the state and other people have no right to interfere (a libertarian argument) In US
PRACTICAL ARGUMENTS It is possible to regulate euthanasia Allowing people to die may free up scarce health resources (this is a possible argument, but no authority has seriously proposed it) Euthanasia happens anyway (a utilitarian or consequentialist argument)
Presented to you by
Around the world
Oregon
The Netherlands
Washington
Belgium
Montana
Albania
New Hamphire is still considering
Luxembourg
Source: Wiki Answers
QUICK STATISTICS
54% 86% 42% 48%
Total percentage of medical practitioners that support Euthanasia Percent of public who support euthanasia for the terminally ill / on life support Total number who supported Euthanasia
Total number who answered "Strongly Support" Euthanasia
Source: Gallup Poll, Angelfire, Nightingale Alliance Date Verified: 7.23.2012
Booklet
COVER MOCK-UPS 1 I originally wanted to include dark red color to increase the tension of the surgery room scenery, however, again, this concept only makes euthanasia as a fearful thing, in contrast to my stance that euthanasia should be made to look convincing by emphasizing the idea of peace and softness to it.
KILLING
KILLING
US
US
SOFTLY
SOFTLY
////////////////////////////////
KILLING US SOFTLY ///////////////////////////////////////////
COVER MOCK-UPS 2
Following the previous critique, I decided to be more offensive by coming up with pictures of happy old people smiling with the text “Killing them softly� to suggest euthanasia. The other mock-up shows a stronger concept, using the image of an old lady sleeping peacefully to suggest euthanasia.
Killing Them Softly
COVER FINAL However, I decided that I wanted to come up with a more conceptual cover conveyed in a simpler way. So, I used the pictures on the cover to add a more conceptual feeling to it, also to suggest euthanasia in a sort of narrative way by using both back and front cover using two contrasting images
Good night Sleep tight rest in peace
ORIGINAL CHAPTER DIVIDERS
I originally came up with the same picture for chapter dividers, which is clouds. However, the same pictures used for different chapter dividers only make the book convey less narrative. Besides, the clouds look like they came straight out of the Powerpuff Girls TV show
NEW CHAPTER DIVIDERS
For chapter dividers, I decided to come up with images that suggest aging and death in a peaceful, inviting way.
Organization Logo
ORIGINAL LOGO
Exit International is the End of Life Choices information & advocacy organisation, founded by Dr Philip Nitschke MD, PhD. Exit International holds regular Workshops in the UK, Europe, Australasia & Nth America. Exit was previously known as the Voluntary Euthanasia Research Foundation. Dr Nitschke is the author of the best-selling practical methods guidebook The Peaceful Pill eHandbook. Dr Nitschke is in Europe until 19 July 2013. To contact him during this time, +44 7883 509 765.
EXISTING MEDIA
LOGO REDESIGN I designed the logo to look simpler and straightforward. I originally used the concept of arrows to form a heart and the other one is the heart beat forming a flat line that becomes an arrow to indicate an “exit�.
B U T T E R F LY SYMBOL However, the sharp lines and gestures from the logo I redesigned sort of contrasts my concept on euthanasia, which is supposed to be inviting, calm, and peaceful. Then I changed the arrows to butterflies. Butterflies are signifIcant to death, as people in some cultures believe dead people are reborn as butterflies.
FINAL LOGO