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Pratt AAS/AOS Posters for a Cause presents: Designing for a World in Crisis with Deb Caponera

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Pratt AAS/AOS Posters for a Cause presents: Designing for a World in Crisis with Deb Caponera

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My name is Deb Caponera and I’m a professor of graphic design at Pratt Institute in the Associates Degrees department.

In partnership with the Grand Central Library,
I’d like to welcome you to our 6th edition of
the Posters for a Cause show “Designing for
a World in Crisis.”

Posters For a Cause is a project that helps cultivate an environment in which advocacy and social responsibility can thrive through creative messaging, and where each student is tasked with designing a poster that conveys strong, compelling messaging to raise awareness and funds for a cause of their choice, utilizing skills learned in class.

I wanted to find a way to engage each student with the specific objectives of the course-work so that they would want to take ownership of the project, as well as embrace the idea of creating strong messages to generate action from the viewer. I also wanted them to understand how powerful they can be as designers, and the responsibility that goes with it. With the Posters For a Cause project they are able to look beyond themselves to create social change and to influence and inspire others to do the same, while acquiring skills and knowledge that will help them to succeed as graphic designers.

This show regularly hangs on the second floor of the Grand Central Library, part of the NY public Library, but due to the Coronavirus pandemic we’re bringing the show and our presentations to you virtually. This show will be in session through the end of May and I hope you will take a look through all of the amazing work my students have done in such thoughtful ways, maybe choose your favorite and make a donation to the organization affiliated with each designer’s cause. The library will feature a poster per week on social media with designer bio, presentation and donation information for the remainder of the show. I hope you’ll take the time to see them all.

For more information please go to: https://www.facebook.com/GrandCentralLibrary/

Thanks to Pratt Institute and the Grand Central Library for their continued support, and thanks for stopping by.

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Words Matter by Ivana Santoscoy, Graphic Design/Illustration, 2022

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Words Matter by Ivana Santoscoy, Graphic Design/Illustration, 2022

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GLSEN is an organization that was started
in 1990 by a group of teachers for LGBTQ+

students. This organization focuses on creating
a better world for the LBTQ+ youth community along with protecting them, as many students in learning environments are bullied each and
every day.

I chose this cause because I believe one's individuality is very important and essential.
I believe that no matter what you identify
as, we are all equal and should be treated
the same.

When coming up with a poster idea I really wanted to show how difficult it can be for some kids, especially those who identify within the LGBTQ+ community. My goal when designing this poster was to show the negative effects that words have and how words can greatly affect oneself.

To learn more and donate go to: www.glsen.org

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How Many More Have To Die by Lydia Cosford, Graphic Design/Illustration, 2022

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How Many More Have To Die by Lydia Cosford, Graphic Design/Illustration, 2022

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Protect our schools is an organization advocating for gun control with the intention of protecting America’s school-age children.

America is the only country where school shootings are so commonplace that many of them don’t even make the news, and very little action has been taken by government officials
to tighten gun control legislation even when schoolchildren are being affected.

This is why I chose Protect our Schools as the organization for my project, because they are organized to advocate for children who can’t advocate for themselves.

My poster is designed to draw the audience’s attention to the victims of these mass shootings; with an image of a gun pointed at the back of a child’s head, showing that the victims of school mass shootings are completely defenseless and sometimes even too young to understand what
is happening.

This poster is meant to call adults and teenagers to action to do something tangible for the cause by appealing to the most basic instinct humans have: to protect our children.

To learn more & donate go to:
www.protectourschools.com

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Stop Trying to Build a Family With a Predator by Yulia Ivanova, Graphic Design/Illustration, 2021

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Stop Trying to Build a Family With a Predator by Yulia Ivanova, Graphic Design/Illustration, 2021

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My poster is an optical 3D illusion. Look at the image through a blue piece of glass and you will see a nice couple in love, but if you look at it through a red glass you will
see a predator attacking its prey. In this way
I show that domestic violence is not always visible. A terrible monster can be hidden behind a friendly appearance.

I was born and raised in Russia where domestic violence is not considered as a criminal offense. There is a saying in our culture: “If he beats you, it means he loves you”. In my opinion, this phrase is completely contrary to the concept of love and respect.
I regularly see articles in Russian newspapers about unfair trials that do
not support defenseless victims of terrible violence in their families. However, this problem is relevant not only in my home country but also throughout the world. The statistics of domestic violence in the USA shocked me and inspired the creation of this artwork. In my poster I speak on behalf of women and urge them to be strong. Despite this, men also experience domestic violence and deserve the same support as women.

It is in our ability to overcome all forms of domestic violence, as we are the only ones involved in this problem.

For more information and to donate, visit: www.safehorizon.org

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Nondiscriminatory by Dana Baumgartner, Graphic Design, 2021

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Nondiscriminatory by Dana Baumgartner, Graphic Design, 2021

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Dana Baumgartner is a Graphic Design major at Pratt Institute, class of 2021. This poster
is in honor of Dana's cousin Cal, who passed away last Fall from an accidental fentanyl overdose. In a rising number of cases, fentanyl is hidden within street drugs and taken unknowingly. By raising awareness of this silent danger and sharing Cal's story, she hopes to encourage more discussion about the deadly impact of fentanyl. Natural High
is a drug prevention nonprofit that inspires and empowers youth to find their drug-free natural high and develop the skills and

courage to live life well.

To learn more & donate:
www.naturalhigh.org /donate

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Put an End to Suicide in the LGBT Community by Andrew Ongibene, Graphic Design, 2020

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Put an End to Suicide in the LGBT Community by Andrew Ongibene, Graphic Design, 2020

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Vaccines Matter by Gina Bruni, Graphic Design, 2021

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Vaccines Matter by Gina Bruni, Graphic Design, 2021

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Parents are becoming increasingly wary of vaccinating their children. While it is with
no doubt responsible to be concerned and informed when it comes to raising young kids, it has come to the point of genuine fear. This fear
is perpetuated by misinformation and scare campaigns spread through social media groups, and blatant disregard for the advice of medical professionals. It has led to the return of previously eradicated diseases like measles. We are at the point where we allow parents to choose to expose others to preventable, dangerous diseases simply because of irrational fear.

As members of a global civilization, we have a responsibility to others and to ourselves. This responsibility includes taking actions to protect the vulnerable members of  society. Vaccinations protect not only the receiver, but those who are immunocompromised or otherwise medically unable to receive immunizations. To them, the diseases these vaccines counter could be devastating.

Vaccines are a life-saving tool that bring us closer to immunity, but only if we all contribute. Every member of our community should have the right, as well as the responsibility, to vaccines that provide immunization from preventable disease.

To learn more & donate to the Immunization Action Coalition: www.immunize.org/support

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Love Shouldn't Hurt by Yilin Xu, Graphic Design/Illustration 2020

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Love Shouldn't Hurt by Yilin Xu, Graphic Design/Illustration 2020

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This is a poster was designed to work towards the mission of the organization Futures Without Violence. Futures Without Violence provides support, education, safety and hope, and empowers individuals and organizations to
end violence, particularly against young women.

On average more than three women a day are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends in the United States. It is worth mentioning that one
in four women in the United States reports experiencing violence by a current or former spouse or boyfriend at some point in her life.

To learn more and make a donation please go to: www.futureswithoutviolence.org

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Feeling Trapped Isn't a Choice by Shaleen Doddanavar, Illustration, 2021

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Feeling Trapped Isn't a Choice by Shaleen Doddanavar, Illustration, 2021

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Mental health foundation is an organisation that aims to provide resources and services to those who are in need of care and support. Their mission is to help individuals understand, protect and sustain their own mental health, as well as others.

I chose to represent this cause because the treatment of mental illness has long been held back due to the misconception that disorders
of emotion, thinking, and behavior somehow
lack legitimacy and instead reflect individual weakness or poor life choices.

When will the stigma of mental health finally fade? Yes, It is important for us to better understand the  human brain and the biological nature of the mind, but this isn’t enough. How
we think about mental health matters. What we do about mental health matters. Reaching out matters.

The concept behind my poster is an interpretation of a reoccurring dream I had, during a time in my life, when my mental health wasn’t in it’s best state. In the dream, I would find myself trapped in a cage completely surrounded by snakes. Scared, alone and helpless.

This is how most people with mental illnesses feel, TRAPPED. Trapped and alone with their thoughts and fears. And feeling this way is NEVER a choice, but reaching out for help or reaching out to help, is AWAYS a choice.”

To learn more about mental health, the Mental Health Foundation and to donate, go to: www.mentalhealth.org.uk

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Stay Safe, We'll Save by Summer (Huiyu) Chen, Illustration, 2022

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Stay Safe, We'll Save by Summer (Huiyu) Chen, Illustration, 2022

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To learn more and donate:
www.doctorswithoutborders.org

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System Change Not Climate Change by Isabelle Layman, Graphic Design, 2022

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System Change Not Climate Change by Isabelle Layman, Graphic Design, 2022

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Protect Our Winters is an organization led by sports enthusiasts which aims to spread awareness around climate change impacts on the outdoor recreation industry, and how that affects the stability of the environment as a whole, jobs, and the economy. I chose POW because I grew up as a skier and I’ve noticed first hand the shrinking snowpacks and unseasonably warm winters here on the East Coast. It was this organization which helped me understand the deep suffering climate change is causing across the globe and inspired myself and many others to become climate advocates pushing business leaders to affect systemic solutions to climate change.

It is ultimately the children of our generation who will suffer the most from anti-environmental policies decided by elected officials in Washington. My poster aims to communicate the call to action POW has mobilized through community outreach and education. Drawing inspiration from the Global Climate Strike this past September, I want to show how the youth has made their voice heard and it’s up to the adults in our capital to prove they can listen so we all can have winters to enjoy in the future.

To learn more and donate go to: www.protectourwinters.org