KC Growers and what others are doing

Ashton and I are doing Cultivate KC. An organization dedicated to help and promote local food growers and to develop this culture.

For preliminary research I wanted us to look at what others are doing in regard of this subject.

Their websites all possess some general accessibility and informational features. Yet they all lack a way to connect the users and to get them engaged with the growers and with each other. I think that if somehow we can create a system that encourages them to be involved then it would be much easier for their culture to grow and develop.

They also lack some greater engagement with the general context of the city. If only there was a way we could help the organization have a greater interaction with other businesses...

http://kcfoodcircle.org/
http://www.growinggrowers.org/
http://freshconnect.com/farmers/
http://brooksidefarmersmarket.com/

KCcity pride

For our topic we decided to go with the growing popularity of our city, Kansas City. The pride of KC is becoming a community in itself and local businesses, citizens, etc are thriving off of it. But there are also sub-communities within KC such as: Cyclists, Healthy trends, buying locally, local makers, beer, foodies, coffee drinkers, basically everything you expect from a city with so much to offer.

Our goal is to connect all those and bring these smaller communities into one big community for the greater good of our city. Having all these different communities feed off of each other will increase our cities pride as well as bring all the people together and making them aware of all the hard work that's going on. 

Makers & Artists/Designers

West Side Local

Manos'

VML

DMH

Normal Human

Maker Goods

Brass Tacks

Bernstein Rein

Barkley

Easy Tiger

Band Wagon

Halmark

Two Tone

Owl & Mouse

Vahalla

Basement Soap

Casey Ligon

Made in the Middle

La Cucaracha

Hammerpress

West Side Story

Bunker

Restaurants

Q39

Barrel 31

Joes BBQ

Gates

Winsteads

Grinders

Music

Record Machine

Mills Record Company

Riot Room

Midland

Beer

Boulevard

75th Street Brewing Company

Beer Kitchen

McCoys

Coffee

Oddly Correct

Little Freshie

Roasterie

Filling Station

Parisi

Thou Mayest

Research: On what others are doing

To try and find a pattern, or trends regarding the brand design of these kinds of businesses.

From what I could see there is a large trend on six-sided die. Initially I also had a similar idea but instead I was thinking on using a twenty-sided die, which could allow for a much more complex logo and hence branding. Most of the websites also focus on featuring the products they offer rather than helping the users visually their experience within those games. I think being able to create a relationship between the store's services and the users can significantly increase the store's presence.

I have also noticed that most of these website lack caring and having left unattended by the owners. If somehow I can create a system that enables both users and owners to perform their tasks and to connect with each other in a more stimulating way then. The owners would feel more compelled to pay better attention and care more about their website as a branding supplement.

PLACES:
http://www.yourgamehaven.com/
http://relentlessdragon.com/
http://www.toywiz.com/
http://www.gametheorystore.com/products/trading-card-games.htm

Rebranding: Game Cafe

My choice for the rebrand is GAME CAFE (http://www.playgamecafe.com/)
A haven for nerds and geeks. The Owner Jonathan is my good friend, and since their branding is and website could use some work I hope he will be willing to use whatever rework I do for their brand.

I am not starting the sketching just yet. Even tho I have some ideas brewing in my head I want to meet Jon on friday night so I can get some research and conversation going on. This place has given me great joy and much fun, and I am looking forward to work on something that I truly care about.

Re: we are supermang & ideas

RE: WE ARE SUPERMAN

I feel like the subject issue is recurrent and difficult to solve. Yes I get it, that people can be greater than they are when they care about others and try to help them. And there other issues that contribute into this one and make it even worst. I have the idea that a greater system needs to be created to cure the issue in the area. A system which organizations and groups help each other a greater allegiance work together, instead of a bunch of people scattered frighting for different things, they should sit down and talk about priorities, get them sorted out and start solving some issues. I believe that this process could consequently lead to solving some specific issues i.e. if children have a good education they will be more likely to care about animals and protect them. 

I also think there are a lot of people being selfish and investing their time on things that matter little, and I wish I could think of a better solution. Or maybe I cannot think of a better solution because I care little about this, and maybe this fact is another issue that needs to be addressed by communities and organizations. 

_________

IDEA 1: 

KC Catalytic Urban Redevelopment Initiative 

http://www.lisc.org/kansas_city/our_programs/kc_catalytic_urban_redevelopment_initiative/index.php

SITUATION — an attempt to reinvest in the development of Kansas City's east side.

MY CONTRIBUTION – I want to create a an appealing and enjoyable branding that would invite individuals to connect and to get involved with this cause.

WHY – I've always thought it is a shame to abandon infrastructure. To abandon a place that bears history and a great potential for the development of the city as a whole.

IDEA 2:

WEST SIDE HOUSING ORGANIZATION

http://www.westsidehousing.org/

SITUATION – they are trying to rebuild and improve the housing condition in the west side neighborhoods.

MY CONTRIBUTION – create a system that educates and informs its inhabitants to encourage them to stand for the cause in contribute in anyway they can. 

WHY – because they are not only thinking about the people that live in the zone but also its businesses. The fact that that they are trying to assimilate commercial factors alongside human needs seem to me a plan worth fighting for.

WHAT CAN HELP? – I think bringing the community together would be the right start, getting them to know each other so they feel comfortable with taking risks and investing efforts in this cause.

IDEA 3: 

SERENDIPITY COMMUNITY SERVICES

http://www.yellowpages.com/kansas-city-mo/mip/serendipity-community-services-451004970?lid=451004970

SITUATION – they try to financially assist individuals to become self-sufficient and strive for a bright future for them and their families.

MY CONTRIBUTION – at the moment they lack any marketing presences. They have no website, or any online presence whatsoever. I want to create material and tools that would allow them to have more visibility in their community and in the city in general.

WHY – I believe that they are approaching the issue in a smart, humble and yet efficient way. It seems like a caring cause with great potential to branch out and spill over other communities.

IDEA 4:

CULTIVATE KC

http://www.cultivatekc.org/about/history.html

SITUATION – they promote homegrown food, to improve the health and nutrition of the citizens. They also assist and educate urban farmers. This with the purpose to create a healthier food system. 

MY CONTRIBUTION – I want to see if i can somehow help the organization connect with food providers in the city to create a greater awareness about nutrition and food preparation awareness.  I think this would contribute to the general health practices of the citizens.

WHY – I believe that this can contribute somehow to improve the citizen eating habits. And citizens with healthy eating habits can make a difference in the way the medical system is structured alongside economic agendas.

Reading Responses

RE: DESIGN THINKING IS A USEFUL MYTH by Donald Norman

"Design Thinking" is a therm that conveys the many reasons why graphic designers matter, why we are relevant as thinkers and not just as artists.
As outsiders (most of the time) problem solvers are able to see things differently from the people that are constantly in touch with the problem at hand. Therefore they are able to break the rules and find new paths that allow for sensible and effective creative solutions.
Graphic designers are problem solvers and we not just artmakers–we are creators, inventors, we care and we strive to do things differently. And all this qualities bring business the ability to stand out, that is why they need us.

–––––––

RE: WHAT DOES DESIGN FOR GOOD MEAN by Daniel Francavilla

The main thing I noticed here is the how people understand the meaning of "Good." And I agree to a certain degree the way the word is being used as a code. My only issue with this is that it is also being used as a trend, and we know trends go away, people get bored of it. Things having a greater purpose shouldn't be something that we see on the tv or on t-shirts. It should be a set of practices, taught by example and not by words. Good being used indiscriminately is a concern to me, I fear it may backfire. I wish I could elaborate on this without having to involve a major theorycraft about philosophy and sociology. But I also wish that we as designers could find a different way to contribute aside from the mere action of creating artifacts that assist social change campaigns.

_______

MX_Community Building System : Research

Ideas:

Idea 1:: Art Community for dummies (proxy title)

The idea is based in the creation of a community of professionals, companies, students and new artists collaborating and sharing information to develop the artistic culture of an specific area. The website would help facilitate information such as gallerie locals, grants for projects and commissions/internships. This idea has the purpose of making the resource-searching process easier for artists so they can focus on what they care about the most, which is make art.

Research:

ArtsKC, Regional Arts Council (https://artskc.org/)
This is really close to the basic model of the idea, yet it lacks a higher level of inclusion with the audience and interaction with the users. We want to let the user have a greater role and participation in our plan.

There is a pattern with art communities' websites, they are either company based (controlled by a private entity) or entirely user based (the users are their greatest contributors. i.e. behance, deviantart)
My concept is based in balancing the roles these both parties have into the development of the community and create a closer contact between the artist and the industry. Ease them in the community as a progressive process which allows them to learn and provides growth opportunities.



Idea:: 2 KC city pride

Is a city wide platform or system intended to bring communities and the people of Kansas City together. To inform and educate people about the many things that make the people of KC feel proud about it. This will allow for a much simpler and efficient way of learning and sharing new things with the people of the city. It will also contribute to create connections between individuals, companies and organizations with the possibility to encourage the to contribute with each other. This will open new ways to create cultural, social and economic growth.
The identity is intended to be more sophisticated with quality produced material (writing,imagery, design)

Research:
City pride websites are oftentimes outdated or directly related to news casting or newspaper which aren't necessarily appealing to a general population. Organizations and communities are also separated from each other and intended for specific demographics. The purpose of the idea is to connect this different subcultures in order to contribute to the general cultural development of the city.