For this project, I collaborated with a UTEP Department of Art colleague in Museum Studies to better distill and display the results of Criminal Justice Professor Dr. Theodore Curry's recent study Why do Immigrant Neighborhoods Have Low Crime Rates? This study conducted surveys in a random sampling of over 200 immigrant neighborhoods around El Paso County, Texas to over 2200 interviewees asking about their perceptions of safety in their respective neighborhoods. I gave the 16 students in this intermediate-level Graphic Design 4 Typography class three weeks to organize among themselves, working both individually and as teams to design twelve cohesive display panels.
Each panel focused upon a unique aspect of the study. As part of their preliminary research, my students had to familiarize themselves with all the data provided by Dr. Curry. They also visited the neighborhoods featured in the study, making notes
Each panel focused upon a unique aspect of the study. As part of their preliminary research, my students had to familiarize themselves with all the data provided by Dr. Curry. They also visited the neighborhoods featured in the study, making notes
and taking all their own original photographs to be used in their final designs. The results included text panels, infographics, illustrations, an interactive device to display the Central Limit Theorem implemented by Dr. Curry, an edited video with musical accompaniment, and a custom-designed typeface based upon the hand painted signage often seen in these barrios. The student who designed this typeface, which she named Tiendita, is now working on developing it further to be sold online.
The Museum Studies students installed and arranged my students' designs in the twelve cases. This project continues to attract much attention both for its multidisciplinary nature and for its positive message about immigrants at a time when certain politicians want to paint the opposite picture. The project was featured on local radio station 88.5 fm KTEP's program State of the Arts.
The Museum Studies students installed and arranged my students' designs in the twelve cases. This project continues to attract much attention both for its multidisciplinary nature and for its positive message about immigrants at a time when certain politicians want to paint the opposite picture. The project was featured on local radio station 88.5 fm KTEP's program State of the Arts.
