Slingshot and Positive News Lecture Response

I was very interested in Slingshot's process. It was unlike anything I've heard. It honestly shocked me to hear how successful the newspaper has been and how long it has lasted. The fact that they can put together a monthly issue not knowing who will be at each meeting is amazing. Even the non-hierarchical system of dividing work seems like it would not be able to achieve anything. Clearly, this newspaper attracts a certain type of person that works out of love. The open and trustworthy atmosphere is why I feel the paper can continue to print issues. The people participating each have a vital role, which makes each person share responsibility and care. It seems like a process a person with a big heart can easily get sucked into. I am astonished that this paper can last 25 years with no backlash or dying out, still. In contrast to today they use such archaic techniques. The time commitment each page takes I feel would deter any young professional, but it is artists and writers working part time jobs who have the freedom to commit to something they believe in. There is no doubt that this paper's success is related to it being in Oakland/ San Francisco. A paper using such out of date, slow techniques would not appeal to any other city, especially on the east coast. I know the process is apart of the charm and the feel of the paper, but I think they can benefit from using some modern approaches that will save them so much time and maybe pull more support. Adbusters is achieving a similar look and feel of having collages, hand drawn elements, cutouts, and covering radical news stories. I know they obviously have a budget to work from, but how successful this magazine has been, they could easily implement a similar budget while staying true to their raw artistic process.

I loved the stores Positive News featured, and what a great idea to have only happy and interesting stories. I thought it was great the way our guest speaker analyzed photographs and word choice to make sure their headlines would not be interpreted wrongly. I think their design could use a lot more improvement to avoid confusion with tabloids, and kids articles. I know they are trying to have a playful design, but it looks to juvenile. I think it could be cleaner, and slightly more professional so people would take this news to be more truthful. She said it herself, people think their stories are made up sometimes. That is definitely a direct effect from the design. It can be fun, but still be professional.

Nonprofits such as these really make me appreciate and thank the people that are apart these projects. There is no financial gain nor political gain. It is simply people loving what they do and dedicating their time and efforts to create something that is benefiting to others. It really is wonderful San Francisco can support these types of projects.

Design Proposal: Topography Map

For this project, I was very interested in creating a map that depicted the topography of the city. The map would act as something similar to google maps where each route would tell the user the steepness of the hill. I plan on having this map be shown in several different mediums. First, there will be a topography app as a free download for iPhones and Androids. The app will feature something similar to google maps, but the different routes will show you different levels of steepness. Each route will have different transportation options: walking, biking, public transit, or car. Steepness will be measured into a system similar to ski slope signals. Colors will dictate flattest to steepest, so users can potentially select a level and only see routes within that color. The topography app will also have a feature that shows a 3D model of San Francisco streets, to better understand the hills of the city. Addition to the app, it would be great to have google maps take on this feature, so the color coding system of steepness will show up in the different routes google map offers. San Francisco transit maps could also feature a 2D topography map where streets have color gradients that depict steepness. 

I think this idea would have a huge social change. Those who are handicapped would benefit greatly along with senior citizens, and even the lazy. Bikers could find new routes other than the wiggle. Tourists could walk the streets without working up a sweat, or easily find hill tops for beautiful views of the city. A topography map could work in favor of the flat street walkers, or the hill top climbers. It would greatly change the quality of living in this city.