Small Steps (Make a Huge Difference)
Like so many others, I believe in the importance of protecting our environment and conserving resources for future generations. However, the ideas of conservation and 'going green' can often feel daunting or overwhelming in terms of work, commitment and scale, particularly considering the volatility of our current social and economic climate. In a society that is more resistant to change than ever, our inner skeptic is left wondering: “I’m just one person; how can I ever hope to make a difference?” This is the critical voice that I wanted my poster to address. My hope with this design was to ease the sense of intimidation, inspire thought and emphasize the idea that even the smallest step can make an enormous difference. The use of a ripple seemed to be the obvious vehicle to carry this message; what makes ripples so beautiful and interesting is how they appear to be so minuscule at first, but over time they grow exponentially, to sizes we never could have imagined. In this case, the ripples expand outward from the 'steps' (represented by humanistic footprints) as they would from a single drop of water, further accentuating the effect that a single act can have and how these acts can overlap or intermingle with one another. The ‘steps’ themselves are portrayed to show a sense of moving forward and a progression that could be interpreted either as progression in thought or action. Overall, I believe that this simple poster speaks to the skeptic within us all. While we might not be able to make an entire world of difference individually, a single step can resonate with others on a global scale; a single step can grow and inspire.
Designed for a class project in Advanced Graphics, submitted to the Utilità manifesta 2011 design contest (theme: "Design for Volunteering, Peace and Human Rights")
