Weekly Recap

What I did:  
2 hours making something for Tuesday.  This included thought and idea synthesizing as well as visual language sample comparisons.


Tuesday I spent 30 minutes finishing our group studio tours and presentations and 4 hours doing library research. 


Thursday I spent 3 hours doing online and book research.  This included making contacts and networking.


What I accomplished / discovered / encountered:  
I have made contact with an immigration attorney at the Michigan Poverty Law Program.  I have a phone conversation scheduled for this Friday morning.  She informed me that the Immigration Department is launching a newly organized website on September 22nd.  I was able to look at  PDF of the mock-up.  It still looks overwhelming in my opinion.  I have also done preliminary online searches for Immigration Advocacy groups as well as Freedom House and Quaker House.  I have sent an email to Freedom House and am waiting for a response.  


In my library research I looked at the Federal Design Response book produced by AIGA quite a few years ago.  I found some very inspiring posters with the same intentions I have for my project.  It seems that their implementation was short lived but well intended.  I have more research to do on this.  I particularly liked the poster called "A Nation of Nations".  I think it is particularly relevant to my project because immigration is such a hot political issue.  In reality, if it weren't for immigration and our founding fathers none of us would be here in this country with our freedoms (unless you are a Native American, even then it would not be the same country).

This image was taken from here:  http://designarchives.aiga.org/index.html?s1=2|s2=1|eid=8343

It was designed by  Stephan Geissbuhler in 1976

This week I also accomplished moving into my studio.  I am still waiting for my drafting table to arrive tomorrow but other than that I am all settled!  I absolutely love having a space separate from the rest of my life to focus solely on my project.  It is so refreshing.  Here are some pictures.

What I think I should do next:
Like I said above I am going to be talking to an Immigration Attorney.  I want to know what she thinks the strengths and weaknesses are of the immigration system, communicative qualities only.  I am not interested in commenting on the current laws or legislation, only in taking what is there and making it accessible, understandable, and legible.  I want to know if there are any tools that would help advocates or other attorneys and make their lives easier.  I also want to know what tools would be helpful to potential immigrants.  Her response to my email was that my proposed project is a much needed but daunting task.  I must say that I agree.  I am very excited but also intimidated.  I have not done a project of this magnitude before.


I had a conversation with my Mom today about my project and she has a number of immigrants that I will be able to talk to in the future but I think my first step should be advocates and lawyers.