A Local Atlas by Hillary Dean Bletz

HILLARY A LO

WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED COVER PRINTED BY PORRIDGE PAPERS December 2013

D. BLETZ

CAL ATLAS

Table of Contents

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Foreword Preface Introduction Research Concept Design Conclusion Bibliography

Foreword

by Instructor

Stacy Asher Assistant Professor of Art Advanced Graphic Design | Fall 2013

M A P P I N G F O R A N A R R AT I V E AT L A S

uring the Fall Semester of 2013 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, students of “Advanced Graphic Design and Design Studio 421 / 426” authored a collection of maps, charts and diagrams that centered around the concept of “Water and System.” Each designed artifact addressed aspects of individual design research and illustrates various methods of investigation. Projects engaged students in the invention of unique graphic systems that visualize information about water. The designs represent quantitative and qualitative narratives and illustrate individual perspectives and interests. These visual displays of water and system were compiled into an atlas — a book of maps, charts, illustrations or diagrams united by the subject of water and system. The atlas represents a coordinated body of methods, a scheme or plan of procedure that was used to organize data from design research. Various production methods were considered and students were encouraged to explore a wide variety of media and design strategies. These methods were evaluated on their effectiveness as generators of visual information with respect to their project goals and intended meanings.

Preface

Hillary Bletz Senior Art Major

Advanced Graphic Design | Fall 2013

he theme of this project is water with such categories as: health and wellness, entertainment, mobility, transportation, etc. The idea for this atlas is from my after school job as a cashier. I deal with hundreds of customers a week. I watch people’s shopping habits and preferences. I became curious as to what kind of water the store uses and how it is maintained. I decided to compare my store to the other stores in Lincoln. This atlas is presented as the process I used to create the book but the message is intended toward grocery shoppers with tips and tricks to make the inevitable task safer, cleaner, healthier, and efficient. I have included my two maps from this project. One is a map of three local grocery stores in Lincoln with a chart of the details of their public water systems. The second hones in on the little store I currently work at with the store layout and tips and suggestions to make the shopping experience better. I could not have completed this project without hints and suggestions from my instructor, Stacy Asher and of course without Super Saver I would not have this insight and information. My classmates as well were wonderful at giving my feedback as my project progressed and were able to provide many helpful suggestions. We did this project as a group and much of our research was collaborated and ideas were shared. Therefore, I will refer to my classmates and I often in this book using plural pronouns such as “us.” Thanks to Porridge Papers for the beautiful letterpress and cover material. Porridge Papers is a locally owned letterpress studio and paper manufacturer. All paper from Porridge Papers is handmade and recycled.

5 | A Local Atlas

Introduction

narrative atlas is a series of maps that tell a story, either real or fictional. This atlas is a short collaborative work of process, design, and research. The process is of the making of this book, designing the pieces and inside maps and the research involved in the information included. Each section is numbered as if in steps. The foreword, preface, and this introduction are included in the sections as numbers to be included as the process of this book. All outside work will be sited in the bibliography. There are multiple purposes and goals for this book. The first purpose is to illustrate the water system health and wellness of local Lincoln grocery stores in designed charts and maps with included research and personal experiences. The author is a cashier at one local grocery store that this book will focus on. She provides easy to interpret maps and diagrams to aid in understanding how to shop for daily food with eyes for cleanliness and conservation. Tips and suggestions are mapped out based on observations from the authorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s standpoint. The goal for this work is to inform the reader on becoming a clean and conservative shopper as well as inform the reader where he or she can access this information for themselves and do their own research based on their personal needs. The second purpose is to inform the designer from the authorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experience on creating a book including type, designs of elements and parts that make up a published work.It should also be stated that this work is printed on recycled paper from a local printing shop as a way for the author to demonstrate in every aspect what she has learned through this project on recycling and conservation.

7 | A Local Atlas

Research

arrative atlases are synonymous with and defined by Denis Wood. He designed and wrote the maps in his book introduced by Ira Glass, Everything Sings. The research for this project started with him and his beautiful narrative maps. It all began with water. Water is a source of life for all living things. To begin researching water I created a diagram of the different aspects of water with topics given to us by our instructor. Some topics were mobility, transportation, health, wellness, entertainment, and habitat. I created an image library composed of images, both found and taken of the different aspects of water. I chose five major topics and collected photos that I keep on Google Docs. My topics included aesthetic, entertainment, habitat, waste, and wellness. I searched the Internet and took many photos from my iPhone. Collecting these images helped me to get a sense of how much water is integrated into our daily lives and how much we as humans waste water. I searched online for information about public water systems in Lincoln and found a link from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services website. A map of Nebraska allowed me to click on Lancaster County and a list of all public water systems in Lancaster popped up. From there I was able to narrow down my search results to include only my chosen local groceries: Hy-Vee, Russâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Market and Super Saver. To get details about the water system registered at each store, I clicked on the hyperlink and the page opened up to a collection of information about any health code violations, water sampling and testing, and any paper work written. I was able to gather enough data for my chart and First Map (pages 11-12). 8

9 | A Local Atlas

Concept

or my quantitative map on pages 11-12, I wanted to create a chart of the three main grocery stores in Lincoln using the information I found on the Safe Drinking Water Information System (SWDIS) page on the DHHS website. I wanted this chart to be easy to read and to have all the information I deemed importation from my research presented in a clear, clean layout. I chose colors based upon the stores color systems to portray clear representations and unity of my subject. I drew a simple map of Lincoln and placed the location of the stores with their addresses. The chart lists the number of public water system health violations in the history of the store along with the average number of population the water system serves and compares it with the other stores. For my qualitative map on pages 13-14, I narrowed down my research down to one store. As a cashier at Super Saver in Fallbrook I wanted to create a concise guide of shopping tips and suggestions for improvement. Using a map of the store and my experience as a shopper and an employee I mapped out the store with icons and blurbs of text. I kept it simple and only included the departments that I felt were relevant to a shoppers and employees together. I wrote to my audience with the intent of educating and informing the locals of healthier solutions and cleaner shopping habits.

Lincoln, Nebraska

Water Systems of Local Grocery Stores This map demonstrates the public water systems of three main locally owned and operated grocery stores of Greater Lincoln. The public information is mapped out with addresses, the amount of population served by each water system and the number of violations they have had since registering each water sytem with the state. All information can be found at the Department of Health and Human Service (DHHS) website.

80 6

Super Saver

Hy-Vee

1550 South Coddin

Russâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Market

Health Violation R Population Served

1 2 3 4 5

# of Violations

Population Served

1 2 3 4 5 6

# of Violat

840 Fallbrook Blvd

1 2

5020 North 27th Street

180

6300 Havelock Avenue

2662 Cornhusker Highway

2 3 3 4 2 2345 North 48th Street 5010 O Street

1601 North 84th Street

233 North 48th Street

130 North 66th Street

1709 Washington Street

1550 South Coddington Avenue

4400 South 33rd Court

4 4 5

2840 South 70th Street

7151 Stacy Lane

6 5

5440 S. 56th Street

6001 Village Drive

2525 Pine Lake Road

olation Records

n Served

# of Violations

Population Served

1 2 3 4 5 6

# of Violations

Super Saver & Healthy Solutions

Bakery Bakery associates are required by the health department to wear hair nets and disposable gloves to ensure safe foods and to avoid cross-contamination. Be sure to check the expiration dates on any baked goods. Pay attention to your baker. Don’t hesitate to tell them if you notice any health violations or to suggest that something be done a better way. Afterall, you are the one at risk if food is not handled properly.

Lincoln, NE

Bulk Food Bulk food is grocery items such as nuts, chocolate, candy, rice, trail mix, and grains that are sold by the pound.

Grocery shopping is an everyday task all around the world. Whether it be at a giant supermarket corporation or at local venders on country roads, everyone experiences the search for fresh fruits and vegatables, clean shops and a good variety. This map is a qualitative approah to a locally owned Nebraska supermarket that diagrams from an employee’s perspective of water usage, food quality and cleanliness while offering solutions on how management, employees and consumers can work together to create a healthy work and shopping environment.

When selecting bulk foods is to always use the scoops, not your bare hands. Ensure clean foods is to use gloves while stocking these items and cleaning the bins daily.

Deli

Deli associates are required by the health department to wear hair nets and disposable gloves to ensure safe foods and to avoid cross-contamination. Pay attention to your meat cutter and food handler. Don’t hesitate to tell them if you notice any health violations or to suggest that something be done a better way. Afterall, you are the one at risk if food is not handled properly.

Produce

Water Source Health Tip Suggestion

Lettuce, bannans, carrots, cauliflower.....they are all sprayed with water throughout the day. They can become very wet. And most of the water gets dripped though the store or settles at the bottom of the produce bags. The dirt and any leaves can turn the water brown as it sits in bags. These items that are covered in water are not per pound but a fixed price, so you do not need to worry about being charged any extra for this excess water. However customers who bring there produce through the check out lanes without putting them in bags run the risk of damaged goods and more germs and contaminants. Shake off excess water. Bag your produce. And of course pick only the freshest!

Meat

Employee Restrooms

The restrooms each have one automatic flushing toilets. They help to elimiate unsanitary surfaces. However, they are not always a good solution for the reason that they are activated by a movement sensor that is so sesitive that he picks up too much movement and the toilet flushes more times than necessary. It takes many gallons of water per flush.

Meat packaging associates are required by the health department to wear hair nets and disposable gloves to ensure safe foods and to avoid cross-contamination. Be sure to check the expiration dates on all meat products. Pay attention to your meat cutter. Don’t hesitate to tell them if you notice any health violations or to suggest that something be done a better way. Afterall, you are the one at risk if food is not handled properly.

Instead of automatic flushing, install toilets that need a button to press, one that is on the floor that you can push with your foot is a great sanitary solution.

Culligan® Water System

nuts, d grains

The water refill station contains two filling stations. Different size water containers are available for purchase. However, you can bring your own for a lower cost.

ays use

Bring your own water containers. Use and reuse. It willl save money as well as the environment.

Grocery

while

ood ou est that all, you d

Dairy should be keep cold at all times. Any dairy product that has been left out in room tempurture could be a health hazard. Mold and dried out products are always possiblities. Examine your dairy product before purchase to inspect for mold or unusual textures or soft or hardness. Be sure to check the expiration dates on all dairy products. Milk will have different expiration dates even though they are all delivered at the same time. Check more than one date before selecting a milk jug to get the freshest possible!

All the most popular brands of distilled and filtered water is sold here. Packs of their store brand are the thriftest solution and bring the most sales. Dasani®, Aquafina®, and Nestle Pure Life®, Deer Park®, and Moutain Valley Spring® brands come in second. Artisan water such as Voss® and Fiji® are more expensive. They come from specific water sources around the world like Norway and Fiji, and are usually sold to help a cause. Mineral water, like Perrier® and Gerolsteiner®, are global and boast to have more essential nutrients.

alth osable oid

Dairy

Pharmacy

Floral

The pharmacy uses water for cleanliness and mixing chemical compounds. Becasue the pharmacist cannot leave the pharmacy durng his shift, a private restroom is also located inside.

Water in the floral department is what keeps the flowers and plants alive and fresh. Without water they would wilt and die. Dying flowers are thrown out and each arrangement is dated with the date they should be tossed. Water is very necessary to provide good service here.

Check Stands No water is allowed at check stands. Maybe it detracts from professionalism or there is a fear of spills. Either way, your body needs lots of water to stay hydrated especially while working. Keeping water in your body could be difficult during long shifts. Clear plastic water bottles kept under the check stands. Water only. Eliminate plastic sacks! Only sell reusable, maded-of-recycled-material grocery bags. It will save the company money as well as the enviroment.

Public Restrooms The restrooms each have two automatic flushing toilets. They help to elimiate unsanitary surfaces. However, they are not always a good solution for the reason that they are activated by a movement sensor that is so sesitive that he picks up too much movement and the toilet flushes more times than necessary. It takes many gallons of water per flush. Instead of automatic flushing, install toilets that need a button to press, one that is on the floor that you can push with your foot is a great sanitary solution.

Drinking Fountain A big problem with drinking fountains is that most of the water doesn’t even get into your mouth. Invest in a commercial bottle water dispenser. It will reduce the amount of wasted water. However, you will need a paper cup recycle bin!

Design

15 | A Local Atlas

chose the designs for my projects with purpose and intent. The cover for this book is letter pressed by a local studio on recycled, handmade paper. I wanted the theme for these maps and this atlas to be a united whole of preaching and practicing eco-friendly ideas and conservationism. I wanted it to have the look and feel of a classic book as well as added personal touches such as the binding and printing I did myself. I chose the “Baskerville” font deciding it was the closest representation as an old book style. On the cover the word “local” is typed using the font “Old Letterpress,” which speaks for itself. My quantitative map that maps out the local groceries is using a color system I created using the stores’ color themes. I tried to create a visually appealing image by changing hues and saturations of the colors to bring them into the same color range and create harmony. I chose the “American Typewriter” font because it’s visual appearance tied together well with the locality and textural aspect of the piece. My qualitative map is more personal and full of one person’s opinion of its quality so I chose a handwritten font called “Simplicity” for the title and “Throw My Hands Up in the Air” for the subtitles. I used “Helvetica Neue” for the paragraph text for easier reading the smaller text. There is not much of color system with this map because of its simple qualities but the background is kept white to represent paper and the colors of the icons correspond with the symbols they represent.

Conclusion

17 | A Local Atlas

fter all of the research and observations I have done for this atlas, I have trained my mind to recognize when resources are being taken for granted and wasted. I cringe when I hear water running and no one in the room. I have a stack of used paper in my room because I hate to just throw it out when it is a recyclable material. I have enjoyed this project and I hope that my book will be enjoyed by anyone who reads it. I hope it is appreciated for its informal approach at sharing the information I’ve obtained and that it will be found useful in our everyday lives. I look at this book as not only a handbook for healthy habits but also for design. A mix of letterpress and inkjet, hand bound and careful paper choices, are experimental design choices that helped me realize the many options that are out there for type and printing and I have discovered many local printers and paper distributers that I had not previously known existed. “Going local” is something I am very passionate about. Helping your local businesses stay in business and getting involved in your local communities is an important part of our society. Therefore to conclude this atlas I hope that it will be a source of inspiration and challenge further thought on the subject of local shopping, conservation and design qualities. If I’ve learned anything in designing this atlas it’s the importance of people in our community, local business owners or my teachers, fellow classmates and piers, they have all played a major part in this whole endeavor.

Bibliography

19 | A Local Atlas

Wood, Denis, and Ira Glass. Everything Sings: Maps for a Narrative Atlas. Los Angeles: Siglio, 2010. Wood, Denis, Jack Hitt, Nancy Updike, Deb Monroe, Jonathan Gold, and Ralph Gentles, interview by Ira Glass. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mapping.â&#x20AC;? This American Life. (September 4, 1998). Agency, United States Environmental Protection. Ground Water and Drinking Water. November 5, 2013. http://water.epa. gov/drink/. Fels, Denis Wood with John. The Power of Maps. New York: The Guilford Press, 1992. Informatics, Onboard. Lincoln, Nebraska. 2013. http://www. city-data.com/city/Lincoln-Nebraska.html. Lima, Manuel. Visual Complexity: Mapping Patterns of Information. New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2011. Services, Department of Health and Human. Drinking Water Watch. May 6, 2013. http://sdwis-dhhs.ne.gov/.

UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN