Design for good - Design and visual communications

🌟 **Class Description** 🎓 Hello everyone and welcome to my latest class! I’m Jen Lezan, a passionate freelance graphic designer, illustrator, and educator based out of the midwest. I run Bella + Sophia Creative studio, where I not only create visual magic but also champion education in design. Platforms like Skillshare and YouTube have been instrumental in connecting me with a diverse array of individuals eager to learn and grow through design. This month, I'm thrilled to offer more than just a course—I aim to inspire you to leverage your design skills for social good. 🌍✨ As designers, we are inherently problem solvers, and our creative talents can be powerful agents for change. This class is particularly close to my heart as I navigate the world as a Latina and witness the struggles and triumphs of the Black, Brown, Indigenous, Asian, and other communities of color. We'll explore how design influences and impacts social issues, from recent events like the tragic shooting of Adam Toledo to systemic issues such as the $1.8 Trillion dollar student debt burden. We'll also touch on the challenges faced by the Asian community during the pandemic and the ongoing fight for fair wages and unionization among essential workers. 🎨 **What the class is about + Skills You Will Learn** 📚 This course delves into the practical application of design for social impact. I'll share examples from my own community service work and activism, including three case study projects. Together, we'll create a cause-related project that can be utilized on social media or as a physical asset at your next protest or rally. This class is an entry point into the world of designing for good. It's not exhaustive but serves as a catalyst for a movement. I invite you to join this journey, even if it makes you uncomfortable—it's in facing our fears and uncertainties that we grow and evolve. In our hands-on sessions, we'll explore the theories and practices of design for good, culminating in a project where you'll apply these concepts to create your own design for social impact. We'll be using Affinity Designer V1 software, but don't worry if you don't have access—you can still apply the principles with traditional art supplies. **Project Description** 🖌️ For our class project, I'll guide you through creating a protest poster in Affinity Designer V1, but feel free to let your creativity run wild and produce any visual that inspires you! It could be a social media graphic or an advocacy piece—the key is to create what moves you. Make sure to share your final project; I'm eager to see the impactful designs you'll come up with! **Tools needed** 🛠️ - Computer - Affinity Designer V1 desktop (or equivalent design software) - 11X17 Paper and Printer (if using traditional methods) - Pencil, pens, markers, paint, and poster boards (for those without digital tools) Remember, the essence of this class is to create what you are inspired by. Let's make a difference with our designs! **CREDITS** 📹 - Stock Photos and Videos Courtesy of Pexels - Additional protest photography and videos by me - Unity Rally Photos by: Lisa Curran - Debt Collective Protest photos courtesy of The Debt Collective + me Music: "Alone" by Emmit Fenn and "Subway Dreams" by Dan Henig. Join me in this transformative journey, and let's harness the power of design to spark change! 💫🚀