Water Filtrationa comparison of city and body

by Ruben Mejia

Contents

First Map

1 Visual journal

3 Research

5 Zine Sketches

6 Zine

7 Inspiration

9 Map

Second Map

13 Inspiration

15 Visual Journal

17 Illustrations 19 Second Map

Foreword

by Stacy AsherAssistant Professor of ArtAdvanced Graphic DesignFall 2013

MAPPING FOR A NARRATIVE ATLASDuring the Fall Semester 2013 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, students of “Advanced Graphic Design and Design Studio 421 / 426” authored a collection of maps, charts and diagrams that centered around the concept of “Water and System.” Each designed artifact addressed aspects of individual design research and illustrates various methodsof investigation. Projects engaged students in the invention of unique graphic systems that visualize information about water. The designs represent quantitative and qualitative narratives and illustrate individual perspectives and interests.

These visual displays of water and system were compiled into an atlas - a book of maps, charts, illustrations or diagrams united by the subject of water and system. The atlas represents a coordinated bodyof methods, a scheme or plan of procedure that was used to organize data from design research.

Various production methods were considered andstudents were encouraged to explore a wide varietyof media and design strategies. These methods were evaluated on their effectiveness as generators ofvisual information with respect to their project goalsand intended meanings.

Dedicated to my family and friends who have supported me throughout my college career and have influenced my life in a positive manner. A special thanks to Stacy Asher for a great last semester in the field of Graphic Design, and any previous professors who have had an influence on my career and the future. Thanks.

Preface

Numerous illustrations and images take an in depthlook at the similarities of a city and the body as a system. Research offers brief knowledge of how the body and its organs function with the addition of water. The images and content gathered were transformed into two maps, one quantitative and one qualitative, each providing a comparison of the two systems. Presented before each map is a framework of descriptions and concepts clarifying how the final images were composed.

First Map

The first step in research wasto explore images from every-day life and acknowledge the importance of water in society. After combining my foundimagery into a visual journal I noticed that the vast majority of images related to entertain-ment. While some countries struggle to get clean water,here in America we have a surplus and use it as a form of entertainment. While some cities deal with yearly droughts, other cities have numerouswater parks and pools andare not as conservative.

For my project I originally wanted to take a look at waterin the form of entertainment.I wanted to further researchhow water is used as a formof entertainment and in what areas it is most common. We often only take into consider-ation things such as wateringour lawns as a manner in whichwe are wasting water, but dowe ever stop and think about how we go to the pools during times of droughts. One question I wanted to answer was whether water parks have restrictions during times of droughts, andif so how that affects them.

1 // Visual Journal

Visual Journal // 2

Before starting the design process I researched the kidney and investigated its correla-tion with water. My research was focused the kidney and how vital it is for those organs to function correctly.This lead me to discover the importance of consuming water in order for the organs to function proper-ly. Our body is filled with toxins and with the absence of water the kidneys are unable to flush out the toxins properly. This can cause the toxins to flow into other areas of the body.

3 // Research

Research // 4

While my focus was solely on the kidneys, I did discover other important roles that water plays on the body. Water helps in digestion, lubrication of the bones, and treatment other common chronic ailments.

5 // Zine Sketches

Before the completion of any maps I created Zinesto help aid in the creative process. Zines are typically gritty and celebrate the “anti-craft” of publication design. My preliminary sketches were quickly sketched and were meant to stand alone without the aid of text. My first sketch was based off of the game Operation. The concept is to remove particular ailments without touching the metal edges of the openings. I changed the concept, replacing those openings with a water bottle shape to stress the importance of supplying water to those areas.

The ideas for the Zines changed from the preliminary sketches to the final images. The scene of the hospital bed with an IV was abstracted to include just the drip, to communicate about dehydration. The play on light in the setting creates a dark and gloomy scenario to help expose the negative side of what can occur with limited consumption of water.

The middle image came to mind while completingthe other Zines and hours of creative thinking aboutthe body and system. The x-ray is of an individual’smidsection exposing the spine and hipbones. A lightlayer of water, constantly running through the body,is placed on the skeleton.

On the right side of the spine is a small kidney stone, to warn the audience about the dangers of not consum-ing enough water. A lack of water greatly reduces the chances of removing any excess materials that are not harmonious with the body.

The final image was based off of the game Operation. After several drafts of this illustration I decided to go with the simplest one. Previous drafts had text on the side of the character explaining each of the body’s organs and their functions, along with the positive side effects that water has on them. After much consider-ation, the text was removed to form a more cohesive set of images when accompanied with the first two.

Zine // 6

While looking for inspirationI spent a lot of time on Googleweb browser searching for images that would direct me towards an idea. Google Maps pinpoint loca-tions within an area and inlcudea brief summary of the location.

The veins within the kidneyresemble roads on a map. I placed the kidney into its own map and used the Google Maps interface to briefly summarize the functions of the kidney. This system makes it easy for an indi-vidual to access its content.

7 // Inspiration

Inspiration // 8

First being accompanied by the Google Maps interface, the interface was removed so that the image stands alone. Following the same format of the Zines, the new image is meant to stand alone without the use of any text. The waterways are meant to represent the constant flow of water throughout our body, while the red buildings are meant to represent the red blood cells. Running through the middle of the city is a murky colored river, the river transitions into the same clean water present in the waterways to showcase the filtration that occurs when water flushes out the toxins.

First Map // 10

Second Map

13 // Inspiration

Graffiti is a common scene in urban areas and can be referred to as toxic to the city. My second map focused on the toxins the kidney helps eliminate, and compares them to the toxins of a city. Theimages gathered were of graffiti along side concrete rivers where the flow of water is most likely to occur.

Inspiration // 14

15 // Visual Journal

After looking at the locations where graffiti ismost likely to be found I focused on the types of graffiti that are created. I wanted to make sure to incorporate the various styles of design, color and subject that graffiti represents.

16 // Visual Journal

After browsing through images, creating sketches and digital illustrations I had a better understanding of the art of graffiti. My initial approach to the second map was to create graffiti of my own that would summarize the comparison of toxins between city and body. My sketches could not convey the message with the sameintensity as the first map. After another glance at my visual journal I had the idea to use the same template as the first map but to replace the waterways with graffiti.Numerous images of graffiti were gathered and manipu-lated in Adobe Photoshop to flow through the system of the second map.

17 // Illustrations

The final map followed the same template as the first map. Originally wanting to head in a different direction to help compare the city and body and the flow of toxins, it was difficult to recreate a strong image as successful as the first one. Having both maps follow the same format helps strengthen the message while also being able to stand on their own. The graffiti was strategically placed throughout the city with some graffiti emerging out of the roads, while others are being confined to its area. This was done to indicate that toxins could flow into other areas of the city just as toxins can emerge in other areas of the body. The area within the kidney shape was lightened to be easily comprehended as a kidney shape. All color was removed from the city map itself to highlight the colors in the graffiti.

Second Map // 20

Colophon

This book was composed principally in Verdana, a humanist sans-serif typeface designed by Matthew Carter for Microsoft Corporation. Other fonts were used primarily in the preparation of images.

Pages were composed by author in Adobe InDesign CS6 using image files prepared in Adobe Photoshop CS6 and Adobe Illustrator CS6.

Files prepared at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Woods Art Building, Room 208, November 2013. Printed by Blurb, www.blurb.com