development book Reduction - Solution Process Year 2 - Semester 1 Kimberly Dijkmans
introduction
I am Kimberly Dijkmans, I’m an Erasmus-student from Belgium. I’m in my third and final year of the undergraduate study Graphic and Digital Media at AP University College in Antwerp. I’m on an exchange to Southampton Solent University for one semester.
This development book is part of my reduction project from the Solution Process unit. This project let us develop a visual campaign which reduces something that in turn benefits society. I choose the subject parent-child communication as this is important to me. My development book is designed in black, white and grey shades and the layout is clean and simple so it will go together with my final poster.
I would love to reduce the detrimental effects of non-/ miscommunication between parent and child. This will improve the parent-child relationship, help children to grow and develop themselves. It can also help children to deal with their problems, be more open about them and reduce the onset of mental health issues. Since a solution will be different for every relation, I made a campaign that will change people’s viewpoint by using a poignant statement.
content
A statement
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Subject
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Research
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Solutions 26 Statements 30 Overview
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Sketches
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Variations
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Creating the image
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Strategy
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Inspiration
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References
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a statement
I started this project by doing research about how to create a hard-hitting statement.
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A statement is
- something that someone says or writes officially, or an action done to express an opinion - a single declaration or remark - a report of facts or opinions
A good statement
A bad statement
uses language your consistuents use
uses jargon, doesn’t understand your audience
is emotionally stirring
is logical and cold
communicates the “why”
communicates only the “what” or “how”
is concise
is really long
is a single, powerful sentence
is a rambling paragraph
sounds good spoken out loud
is full of clauses and hard to say
is memorable
is forgettable
suprises
is dull
is actionable
can’t be quantified
is specific
is vague
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subject 8
After understanding what a good statement is, I started brainstorming about different subjects. I did a little bit of research on the most interesting ones and compared them to each other to define which subject was the most interesting, challenging and accurate to this reduction project. The chosen subject is parent-child communication.
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Statements / quotes If you can’t feed a hundred people then feed just one. Only a poster should be out on the streets 24 hours a day. A third of homeless people have been refused work because of their living situation. You see an abandoned chair on the street and you think “It has the potential to be something beautiful”. You see a homeless youth on the street and you think “Don’t make eye-contact”.
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Statements / quotes There are teenagers having unprotected sex but have cases on their cell phones. 51% who are sexualy active said they used a condom last time they had sex. 21% of teenagers always weres a condom. Causes of unsafe / unprotected sex -- alcohol -- peer pressure -- passion of the moment -- media (which often portrays sex as an act with no negative results) -- embarrassed to purchase contraception -- men find condoms uncomfortable -- men refuse to wear condoms -- men pressure their girlfriends/partners -- recklessness of the age -- feeling ‘it won’t happen to them’
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research
Dorothy Law Nolte poem If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn. If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight. If a child lives with fear, he learns to be apprehensive. If a child lives with pity, he learns to feel sorry for himself. If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy. If a child lives with jealousy, he learns what envy is. If a child lives with shame, he learns to feel guilty. If a child lives with encouragement, he learns to be confident. If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient. If a child lives with praise, he learns to be appreciative. If a child lives with acceptance, he learns to love. If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself. If a child lives with recognition, he learns that it is good to have a goal. If a child lives with sharing, he learns about generosity. If a child lives with honesty and fairness, he learns what truth and justice are. If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith in himself and in those about him. If a child lives with friendliness, he learns that the world is a nice place in which to live, to love and be loved. If you live with serenity, your child will live with peace of mind.
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Solutions
extremely young or upset or sick or scared. But for the everyday
1. Talk during the in-betweens
respond like an actual person. After all, don’t genuine responses
What were you doing the last time you had a good conversation with
tracking we need to stay in touch with their lives, it is far better to make you want to share more too?
your child? I know the answers: walking or driving to school, baking together, bath time, and, of course, bedtime. These times and activities loosen tongues because parent and child aren’t looking at
4. Encourage emotional literacy
Help your kids tell the story. We focus on academics, but our
each other. In fact, we are in parallel position. Most of us think talking
kids also need to be emotionally literate, able to tell a story from
is supposed to be about relating deeply, but kids actually open up in
beginning to end. Problems are better solved when one can
the middle of doing other things, during what I refer to as the “in-
articulate them to another person and people find solutions
betweens” of life.
together. I know, kids take so long to get to the point and schedules must be followed. But slow down for two minutes to ask action
2. Create talking rituals
questions: “Who was there? What did they say? What happened
Observe your child’s conversational style. You’ve heard about
next?” These help your child feel heard and show you are interested
learning or attentional styles, but our kids have hard-wired
in the whole story. “Love is focused interest,” it has been said, and
conversational styles that don’t change much. One child may be a
our kids can tell when we are interested in the story. As a 6-year-old
lively morning talker. Another is barely human before the bus arrives,
said to me, “I want mom’s undivided attention.” “What do you mean,
but after school it’s no-holds-barred banter. One of your children
no siblings around?” “No,” she replied,” not thinking about 50 other
likes a lot of back and forth, another needs to talk at a slower pace, a
things at once.”
third can’t tolerate questions. The key to openness is to not change what is unchangeable, but instead to respect natural times and ways of talking. Build what I call “talking rituals” around them: 15 minutes
5. Details matter
Pay attention to the superficial. “You lost quarters under the vending
of driving together or downtime side-by-side in the evening may be
machine. What year were they?” often leads to the real scoop. “I was
all you need to make that connection.
at the vending machine because I didn’t think anyone would talk to me at lunch.” The trivial is where kids live; they get scared off when
3. Be a person
we delve for deeper feelings, as in “How did that make you feel?” So,
Respond to your child with real emotion. Don’t go over the top
commit to the superficial, and more often than not the trivial will lead
with reactions, but don’t be a therapist either. Nodding one’s
to what’s really going on.
head, naming feelings, and reflecting back is terrific when kids are
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6. You count, too
11. Embarrassing the child in front of others will lead only to
This is big in our child-centered world. Talk about yourself if you
resentment and hostility, not good communication.
want your kids to talk about themselves. Next time at dinner, spend
12. Don’t tower over your child. Physically get down to the child’s
a few moments opening up about your day. Your child will interrupt,
level then talk.
and I guarantee you won’t get to the end of the story. The reason it’s such a conversation trigger is that when you talk about yourself
13. If you are very angry about a behaviour or an incident, don’t
it reminds kids about things in their distant memory three hours
attempt communication until you regain your cool, because you
earlier. For example, if you say, “I had an argument with one of my
cannot be objective until then. It is better to stop, settle down, and
friends at work,” your child might well respond, “I had a fight with
talk to the child later.
Jenny during gym.” And a special note about dinnertime: grill the food not your kids. Endless queries such as “How was school?” are
14. If you are very tired, you will have to make an extra effort to be
conversation-busters. As one pre-teen told me, “It feels like I have to
an active listener. Genuine active listening is hard work and is very
produce all over again at dinner.”
difficult when your mind and body are already tired.
7. Let the child know that you are interested and involved and that
15. Listen carefully and politely. Don’t interrupt the child when he is
you will help when needed.
trying to tell his story. Be as courteous to your child as you would be to your best friend.
8. Turn off the television or put the newspaper down when your child wants to converse.
16. Don’t be a wipe-out artist, unravelling minor threads of a story and never allowing the child’s own theme to develop. This is the
9. Avoid taking a telephone call when the child has something
parent who reacts to the incidentals of a message while the main
important to tell you.
idea is list: i.e., the child starts to tell about what happened and the parent says, “I don’t care what they are doing, but you had better not
10. Unless other people are specifically meant to be included, hold
be involved in anything like that.”
conversations in privacy. The best communication between you and the child will occur when others are not around.
17. Don’t ask why, but do ask what happened. 18. If you have knowledge of the situation, confront the child with
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the information that you know or have been told.
19. Keep adult talking (“You’ll talk when I’m finished.” “I know what’s
27. Set aside a part of the day no matter what else you are occupied
best for you.” “Just do what I say and that will solve the problem”),
with and talk to your child about their day.
preaching and moralizing to a minimum because they are not helpful in getting communication open and keeping it open.
28. Listen to and respect their opinion. In that way, you are teaching them to respect the opinion of others.
20. Don’t use put-down words or statements: dumb, stupid, lazy: “Stupid, that makes no sense at all” or “What do you know, you’re
29. Explain to your child any decisions you have taken that concerns
just a child.”
them, as children are scared of or become angry at the unknown.
21. Assist the child in planning some specific steps to the solution.
30. Listen to your child and try not to overact to what you hear. Big reactions scare children.
22. Show that you accept the child himself, regardless of what he has or has not done.
31. Remember that no child wants to upset or hurt their parents, which is why they keep secrets. Create a climate of security and trust
23. Reinforce the child for keeping communication open. Do this by
through conversation.
accepting him and praising his efforts to communicate. 24. Firstly, your behaviour is the archetype on which your child will develop their own behaviour.
32. Get To Know How Your Child Communicates
Some kids love to chat about anything, while other kids tend to be more reserved. Whether your child is open or quiet, what’s important is that they feel as though they can come to you as their
25. Observe your child’s behaviour as any unexplained change in
parent for anything. Getting to know the way in which your child
behaviour is indicative that something has taken place or something
communicates can help you to understand how best to connect
is bothering them.
with them. Even if talking really isn’t your child’s favorite thing, just spending some quiet time with them can help to encourage them to
26. Tell your child things that may be obvious or apparent to you,
open up when they need to.
as saying to your child that you love them or feeling proud of them might be obvious to you, but it is certainly not to them, your child will certainly need to hear it.
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33. Avoid Lectures
35. Tell Positive Stories
to make sure your child listens and understands what you’re telling
very special for a child to hear stories about their parents. As their
them. Lecturing and nagging won’t help you break through to your
parent, you should feel free to share stories with your child, but only
child any faster. If you feel like you’ve hit a wall in a conversation, set
share stories that serve a positive purpose. Don’t share stories with
it aside for a little bit. Think about what it is that you really want your
your child in such a way that might be perceived negatively. This
child to understand and how your child will best hear what you have
might include unflattering or inappropriate stories about your co-
to say next time you speak.
parent or other adults in your child’s life. Consider your child’s age
As a parent, you’ll probably come across moments where you need
Children love to hear stories about all sorts of things, but it can be
and maturity level before sharing any story with them, as to ensure 34. Listen Up
that they will correctly understand the point of it.
important skill to practice. Give them your full attention during your
36. Find Time to Talk Everyday
Being an active listener when speaking to your child is an conversations, showing them that you’re interested in what they
You may have a tight schedule most of the time, but so might your
have to say. This includes making eye contact and leaving distracting
kids. With school, homework, extracurriculars, friends and after
things, like your cell phone, aside from your talks. When it is your
school jobs on their plates, your children may also find it hard to
turn to speak, respond thoughtfully. Later on, you might bring up
make time for anything outside of their schedule. However, there
part of your conversation to show your child that you remember
should always be a little time each day to set aside for each other. As
what they said. It’s also crucial that you listen for anything your child
a parent, take advantage of the seemingly trivial moments you have
says that could be concerning to you as their parent. Maybe they are
with your child just to talk. This might be in the car when driving to
direct when speaking about their emotions, but even if they aren’t,
music lessons, grabbing a quick breakfast before work and school,
the things they do say can give you some insight into what they are
at the dinner table, or even just before bed. Just a few minutes can
truly feeling.
make a big difference to improve parent-child communication.
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statements
Statements / quotes -- Much unhappiness has come into the world because of bewilderment and things left unsaid. -- The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place. -- The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said. -- So the whole war is because we can’t talk to each other. -- Two monologues do not make a dialogue.
-- The way we talk to our children becomes their inner voice. -- Healthy communication rests at the heart of a healthy relationship. -- Good communication and observation may reveal a number of truths and most importantly, they are a good tool for both preventing and handling of any situation that may arise with your child. -- Effective parent-child communication is the basis of positive parent-child interactions and high self-esteem in children.
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-- Effective communication between parents and children prevents problematic behaviour and helps children understand how to interact effectively with others. -- Every child needs to know they have a safe person on their side who will take them seriously. -- So, should you wait to talk to your child about bullying until you have hard proof that there is a problem? Why talk about a problem if there isn’t a problem? Here’s the reality: while school is about learning English, Math, and History, it’s also a place where conflict occurs. Abuse of power occurs. Bullying occurs. -- Research indicates that strong family relationships can help children develop self-esteem, resist peer pressure, and act responsibly when making decisions about drugs, violence, and sexual intercourse. Effective parent-child communication is a cornerstone of strong and healthy families. -- This will give you permission to help solve a bullying problem. Most parents find this one hard as they go straight into problem-solving, questioning, advising, comparing, sympathising or lecturing. These techniques tend to shut communication down rather than open it up. Simply nodding and saying, “Mmm” or, “That sounds like it was hard,” communicates that we care and are more interested in letting the other person speak, than putting our spin on it. -- Sensitive listening helps a child feel heard, which communicates love and support. A child will also feel that because we are not offering a range of solutions, we believe in their ability to come up with a solution. Please note – there are times to listen and times to act upon a child’s concerns. -- Maybe the seed of children cutting off their parents started with us, the first generation with parents ultra-concerned about making sure their children had a “better” childhood than they had. -- Children often cannot hear what you say because you are screaming so loudly at them. -- “The best thing you can do for your kids is show them that you are enjoying life,” my wise friend Jackie Goldstein says. Now that I can model.
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overview
Subject parent-child communication What -- reduce the detrimental effects of non/miscommunication between parent and child -- reduce miscommunication between parent and child -- encourage (good) communication between parent and child Why -- improve the parent-child relationship -- reduce the onset of mental health issues in children -- help children to grow and develop themselves -- help children to deal with their problems -- help children to be more open about their problems Goal create a campaign that will change people’s viewpoint by using a poignant statement Target audience parents of children of all ages
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sketches
Before I started to create digital designs, I first made some sketches of ideas and compared them to each other.
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variations
While creating my poster, I experimented with different layouts, compositions, font sizes, type faces, colours, overlays, masks, adjustment layers, textures and backgrounds.
creating the image
The arms on the poster are photographs I took myself. The left arm is my little brother’s and the right one is mine. I adjusted some things such as the colour, saturation and contrast. 56
The text (two monologues) is from Parenthood, an American television drama series. The show is about the Braverman family, which comprises of an older couple, their four children, and other members of their family. The script is relevant to my campaign as there a lot of communication between parents and children in the show. 57
strategy
I would love to reduce the detrimental effects of non-/miscommunication between parent and child. This will improve the parent-child relationship, help children to grow and develop themselves. It can also help children to deal with their problems, be more open about them and reduce the onset of mental health issues. Since a solution will be different for every relation, I made a campaign that will change people’s viewpoint by using a poignant statement.
“Two monologues do not make a dialogue.�, a statement that is short but
powerful, hard-hitting and memorable. I wanted to make sure that the campaign is effective so I tested it and asked for opinions and suggestions from people in the target audience. After making some adjustments and making sure our target audience understands what it is about, I decided that the poster will form the main part of the campaign. It is going to be displayed in different public places, such as schools, hospitals, cinemas, shopping malls, bus stops and subways since parents and children are seen together a lot in these places. This is the most convenient and fastest way to reach my target audience and achieve my goal.
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To provide parents and children with extra information on the subject matter, I designed an extra leaflet. The leaflets will be handed out on the streets or be displayed in a leaflet holder in public places where parents and children can take them for free. The leaflet contains statistics about parent-child communication and mental health problems. It also says where to go for help if needed and provides solutions that parents and children can consider without professional help.
inspiration
Lamosca
Chris Curry
Frank Augugliaro
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Frank Augugliaro
Jason Sfetko
Mike Ley
The posters on this spread are designed by different artists in Estudio Javier JaÊn in Barcelona. They inspired me a lot and helped me to get ideas for my own design. I like how they always use photos in their designs, how they combine things that wouldn’t normally be associated together and that the posters are clean and simple with not too much extra elements.
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Bili Cardona
Armin Hofmann
These designs are great examples of how to use a frame in different ways, turn text into illustration, use photographs in designs and make a statement without using text. Kyle Kim
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Agnes Cecile
Kate Marie Koyama Design
Kyle Kim’s poster inspired me the most because of its transition between two different elements. The way that Kate Marie Koyoma Design uses typography as a frame is interesting too. Anonymous
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references
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