Media Design – The Astronaut

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The Astronaut
Written and Recited by Sarah Kay
Spoken Word Poetess
New Yorker
Spiritual Guide

This video was an attempt to utilize the various programs from the semester: Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Premiere, Illustrator, and After Effects). I utilized numerous tutorials for different aspects of this video (the solar system, the bubbles, etc…). The clips of the moon in the beginning are from a Nasa YouTube video. The shots at the end are from the New York Aquarium.

This being my first encounter with After Effects, I had some difficulty working with the program and exporting it. This is not the end product I would prefer. It’s missing opening titles and closing credits. I also had more ideas for the text in the middle of the poem, but I think it’s a pretty good first effort.

Edible Shoolyard Poster 2

Here’s another version.

Media Design – Sustainability Project

Edible Schoolyard Poster 1

I first encountered the Edible Schoolyard while I was interning for a documentary film production company in San Francisco. Alice Waters the restaurateur founded the program to teaching schoolchildren about the slow food movement and sustainable eating practices. The organization partners with public schools and farming and cooking classes are part of the curriculum.

I designed some posters that would appear in subway cars. It’s playing off a couple of things. The official campaign utilizes pictures of children enjoying themselves in the gardens and there are bright vibrant colors.

This poser incorporates parts of that, but also is the exact opposite. I found this photograph of the empty classroom on a stock photo website, and after removing all the lines I couldn’t not use it. It’s also playing on the snarky advertisements that appear in those subway squares such as Manhattan Mini Storage. It also preys upon the competitive New york school parent mentality in a hope this would get parents to want the program in their own schools.

Lastly, I also think it’s a rip off of the “It’s 3pm, do you know where your child is” ads fromt he 60s, 70s, and 80s.

Here’s the Edible Schoolyard website for your reference: http://esynyc.org/