Objective:
By sending out the mentioned memes as a postcard, we wanted to encourage politicians (mostly MEPs), already smpathizing with the idea of supporting the TRIPS-Waiver, in a positive kind of way to post more about their support and hence increase public pressure.
The Project:
In our squad we created funny memes, ironically describing current (european) patent policy or politicians behaviour, whilst pointing out more equitable and efficient solutions that help end the pandemic sooner, for example supporting the TRIPS-Waiver. These were then sent out to MEPs/politicians with an attached letter, to make them state publically their support for TRIPs-Waiver.
STRATEGIES:
TRY THIS:
Share them on social media. #FreeTheVaccine #PeoplesVaccine
Make one!
What worked?
The memes were reposted by some NGOs and we also got some positive feedback from a few MEPs. In addition, it helped us a lot to try out Craftivism and using positive vibes to criticize.
Reflections from Elise Potthoff
What was the process/journey of creating this work?
The idea was created during the time when the container ship “Ever Given” was stuck in the Suez Channel and social media was flooded with memes about it. Therefore we also created one meme with this background.
What would be your next steps, building on this idea, if you had a million dollars and all the time and skills in the world?
Flood every politician with a postcard specifically adapted to her/his statements on the TRIPS-topic with a picture of him/her as base of the meme. Also the memes could be printed out largely as big posters to be hung up in public area.
If someone else were going to make/use/do something like this, what advice would you give them?
It would be also good to try targetting MEPs from the “other side”, not convinced of the TRIPS-Waiver yet. Of course, different texts on the memes could be helpful and also a different letter attached to it. But the procedure could be the same.
About this project
Creators:
- Samira Shair
- Ludovico Caminati
- Kathi Wolfenstetter
- Maanasa Gurram
- Hannah Dawson
- Max Wielenga
- Alessia Gonfroid
- Julia Billian
- Johanna Twittenhoff
- Owen Lukins
- Sophie Tragert
- Elise Potthoff
April, 2021
Image/graphic, Online/web thing, Print, Writing
Germany, Munster
148mm x 105mm
Objective:
To popularize the story of Jonas Salk’s sharing his vaccine without a patent and show that another way is possible.
The Project:
Designed to be part of a set of fun materials for people who join The Jonas Salk Fan Club.
STRATEGIES:
TRY THIS:
Print it and stick it.
Join the fan club.
What worked?
The stickers are the perfect size, easy to distribute via the mail, and relatively inexpensive to produce.
Other Notes:
The “Patents Prolong Pandemics” phrase was
-
Original files can be provided for exhibition
- The work can be reproduced on site with instructions (provided)
Links:
Reflections from Steve Lambert
What was the process/journey of creating this work?
The “Profits Prolong Pandemics” phrase came from a tweet that fellow Free the Vaccine for COVID-19 participant, Anmol Gupta wrote and it has stuck with me. I try to incorporate it into other messages where it fits because it captures so much in 3 words.
The Jonas Salk Fan Club came from an AIDS 2018 campaign with Treatment Action Group and the Center for Artistic Activism and it deserves to have more of a life.
The sticker itself, well a vision popped into my head. The cut out head has this friendly and fun look from old music promotion posters of the late 50’s – which evokes the same era as the polio vaccine announcement. We wanted to make some additional materials to fit in the Jonas Salk Fan Club pack and I thought of a sticker. One of the places I order stickers from was having a sale and that’s always a good prompt to make something.
What would be your next steps, building on this idea, if you had a million dollars and all the time and skills in the world?
More fan club materials! Bumper stickers, membership cards (I may work on this one), posters, maybe starting chapters at universities as like a fun, social club with some shared values – so not quite UAEM, but a gateway to it.
If someone else were going to make/use/do something like this, what advice would you give them?
Just start messing around with design ideas. It usually takes me between 10 and 40 drafts to get to something I like. I try different things, colors, sizes, etc. I included some of those drafts as an image to give an idea of how it works, but it doesn’t reflect the whole process because I forget to keep drafts that are just not working at all.
About this project
Creators:
April, 2021
United States, Poughkeepsie
3 inch circle
Download Original/High-Resolution File: Jonas-Salk-Fan-Club-sticker.pdf, Jonas-Salk-Fan-Club-Sticker.ai_.zip, Salk-head.psd.zip, Salk-original-photo.jpg
Objective:
Get 1000 people in UCLA to understand and publicly support Free the Vaccine goals
The Project:
Shareable social media content that could be posted by different student organization in UCLA
TRY THIS:
Share it on social media. #FreeTheVaccine #PeoplesVaccine
Make it specific to your community.
What worked?
A general representative of UCLA’s Undergraduate Students Association Council reposted some of the graphics, increasing exposure and conversation about the Open COVID Pledge and Free the Vaccine.
Reflections from Johanna Angeles
What would be your next steps, building on this idea, if you had a million dollars and all the time and skills in the world?
I would print these out and plaster them all over the UCLA campus, leaving no surface untouched.
If someone else were going to make/use/do something like this, what advice would you give them?
You don’t need to be a professional nor have a fine art background to create social media graphics! I personally used Canva. It has free templates you can easily customize.
Objective:
The objective of this tactic was to get at least 15 people educated/involved per flyer put up by either scanning the QR code or taking a slip.
The Project:
This flyer uses the template of a Missing Person flyer to draw attention, and then seeks to quickly educate people regarding patents and pharmaceutical corporations. The QR code links to the Free the Vaccine website, and the slips on the bottom are a location-specific number (in this case, a California senator).
TRY THIS:
Make it specific to your community.
Report the missing vaccine.
What worked?
We are still in the testing phase of putting these flyers up, but will update on how it goes! 🙂
Reflections from Daria Bazzi
What skills or perspectives did the collaborators bring to this?
Everything from bolding certain words, adding a shared value statement (“Everyone Deserves a Shot!”), making sure I specified Covid-19 vaccine, changing “Pharmaceutical Companies” to “Pharmaceutical Corporations,” the idea to make slips people could take, and more, all came from others who took the time to give me great feedback!
If someone else were going to make/use/do something like this, what advice would you give them?
I would love it if people in different locations changed the number on the slips to make it more location-specific, and if they thought a link to another website would be more effective in their community, I would recommend they change the QR code, as well! Also, translation of the text might be in order to get the message across more effectively.
About this project
Creators:
- Daria Bazzi
- Heloise Widdig
- Carly Besser
- Defne Zuhal Yorgancioglu
- Franziska Gartner
- Rachel Gita Karp
- Shivesh Shourya
March, 2021
United States, Los Angeles
2550 x 3300 px
Download Original/High-Resolution File: MissingVaccine_Flyer_v04_BIG.jpg
Objective:
With this Jonas Salk sketch we would like to encourage you and as many other people as possible to print out the sketch and take a picture of Jonas Salk in front of a landmark, a place special to you or a beautiful place in your surroundings. Much like the extremely successful Flat Stanley project more than 25 years ago. By spreading the word on social media, you can encourage others to do the same, help carry on Salk’s legacy, and remind people of a role model who prioritized people’s well-being over profit.
The Project:
We have depicted Jonas Salk in his role as a role model in vaccine development and distribution in a cartoon-like drawing. This eye-catching and charming design is intended to help spread Salk’s scientific and philosophical spirit and create a distinctive recognition value.
TRY THIS:
Make your own Flat Salk and help him visit your favorite places.
Share it on social media #FreeTheVaccine #PeoplesVaccine
What worked?
All the wonderfully kind and human values of Jonas Salk can be perfectly reflected in a cartoon-like style.
Other Notes:
1) Print the sketch
2) Glue it on cardboard or thicker paper
3) Cut out the outline of Jonas Salk
4) Take a picture with the cutout in front of a landmark, a place important to you, or a beautiful place in your neighborhood
5) Share the photo on social media and get more people to do the same
-
A set of instructions exists on how to make this work
- An original object can be provided for exhibition
Links:
- Flat Salk images and directions on the Jonas Salk Fan Club site
- @FlatSalk on Twitter
- @FlatSalk on Instagram
Reflections from Calvin Dunker
What was the process/journey of creating this work?
Since other drawings in this cartoon-like style had already been created by unrelated projects, all that was needed was an agreement on the elements that would appear. The many iconic images of Salk as a scientist during the successful approval of the vaccine served as a rough template.
What skills or perspectives did the collaborators bring to this?
Mareike Bielok was responsible for the drawing and the underlying cartoon-like style. Calvin Dunker prepared the rough concept and the elements to be displayed.
What were some of the responses to this work?
Very positive feedback and already first photos in front of landmarks.
What would be your next steps, building on this idea, if you had a million dollars and all the time and skills in the world?
Produce an animation series with cartoon Jonas Salk traveling around the world. Organize airplane banners covering all the beaches in the world. Pay very famous people who can’t be convinced by the message behind the image to share pictures of themselves, the Jonas Salk cutout and famous landmarks on their social media channels.
About this project
Creators:
- Calvin Dunker
- Mareike Bielok
March, 2021
Germany, Munster
3024 x 4032 pixels
Download Original/High-Resolution File: Salk-.png, Salk-Outline.png
Objective:
The objective of this project was to promote vaccine uptake among the Pittsburgh community. This digital design was created for applications such as stickers and event backdrops to be used at a COVID vaccine events and through digital media proliferation.
The Project:
In this digital design, #3Rivers2Shots1PGH text is paired with simple, clean imagery that defines each component of the hashtag. Within the digital design, there are two large syringes that symbolize the two shots for the COVID vaccine; these syringes act as two towers supporting Pittsburgh’s famous Andy Warhol bridge. Beneath the bridge are three strokes of wavy lines, which are representative of the three rivers of Pittsburgh
STRATEGIES:
TRY THIS:
Share it on social media. #FreeTheVaccine #3Rivers2Shots1PGH
Make your own!
What worked?
The element of this project that I found to be most successful was the integration of the two syringes upholding the golden Andy Warhol bridge. It’s symbolism could be interpreted many ways, but I see it as representing how communal COVID vaccine uptake is vital to upholding and maintaining the city’s health and safety, just as the towers of a bridge are crucial to upholding the structure.
Other Notes:
As part of our efforts through Free the Vaccine, we were working with Pittsburgh’s Community Vaccine Collaborative (CVC). The CVC is a multi-disciplinary, diverse community and academic collaboration to address trustworthiness of vaccines and equitable vaccine distribution. The CVC is a partnership with researchers, clinicians, and social scientists at UPMC’s Children’s Hospital, University of Pittsburgh, and Chatham University, and organizations including Neighborhood Resilience Project, Casa San Jose, UrbanKind Institute, and Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh.
-
Original files can be provided for exhibition
Reflections from Elizabeth Lusardi
What was the process/journey of creating this work?
While working as an immersive media studio assistant at Chatham University with Joseph Amodei, I was given the opportunity to use my artistic skills to create a logo to promote COVID vaccine uptake in the Pittsburgh community.
What were some of the responses to this work?
Members of the Community Vaccine Collaborative in Pittsburgh found this image to be a great way to connect the ideas of vaccination to the specific locale of Pittsburgh.
About this project
Creators:
- Elizabeth Lusardi
- Joseph Amodei
January, 2021
United States, Pittsburgh
3339 x 2576 pixels
Download Original/High-Resolution File: Primary-image-2.tif
Objective:
Encourage conversation around the vaccine and how UCLA can help make that happen.
The Project:
Poster featuring the UCLA Bear mascot and a mock up of a magazine cover to encourage UCLA to help Free the Vaccine.
TRY THIS:
Make it specific to your community.
What worked?
Strongly featured UCLA.
About this project
Creators:
- Crane Squad
December, 2020
United States, Los Angeles
10inchesx14inches
Link to Original or High-Res file
-
Original files can be provided for exhibition
Reflections from Crane Squad
Objective:
Draw attention to the craziness of how our pharmaceutical systems work.
The Project:
Cards Against Humanity Parady
TRY THIS:
Make your own set.
Riff on another game.
What worked?
A fun, playful way to point out serious issues.
About this project
Creators:
- Robins Squad
December, 2020
United Kingdom, London
4×5 inches
-
A set of instructions exists on how to make this work
Reflections from Robins Squad
Objective:
We wanted to make our targets aware of the Free the Vaccine campaign and the Open COVID Pledge. We invited them for a conversation with us.
The Project:
The Thank You Cards were sent out to researchers as an appreciation of their work and efforts in investigating COVID-19. The Free the Vaccine campaign and the Open COVID Pledge was then introduced with a text tailored towards the recipient.
STRATEGIES:
TRY THIS:
Print it and send it!
What worked?
The Thank You Cards highlight the important work that the researchers have been doing, thanking them for their efforts without pressuring them.
About this project
Creators:
- Simbie Yau
- Heloise Widdig
- Magali Heijkoop
- Defne Zuhal Yorgancioglu
- Katharina Wolfenstetter
November, 2020
Hungary, Budapest
1890 × 2522 pixels
Download Original/High-Resolution File: Thank-You-Card-1.jpg
-
Original files can be provided for exhibition
Reflections from Katharina Wolfenstetter
What was the process/journey of creating this work?
We wanted to find a way to contact our targets that wasn’t just an email.
Kasia told us about her lab’s action from season 1, where they identified “Covid research champions” and sent letters to thank them for their work and bring their attention to the Open Covid Pledge. We decided this would be a great way to contact our targets.
We discussed the fact that people love to get compliments and positive feedback about their work and how this would be the best way to our targets into a conversation. Starting a conversation on a negative note is likely not to be effective.
We decided to design a Thank You card with a bright and snappy message on the front and a simple, tailored letter on the other. In the tailored letter we referred to their specific work, achievement, and institution.
What skills or perspectives did the collaborators bring to this?
Simbie worked on the artistic input and brought together the amazing layout. The other collaborators worked on the targeting of specific researchers.
Objective:
The objective of this image was to pressure Dr. Cheryl Healton, the Dean of NYU’s School of Global Public Health, to sign the Open Covid Pledge.
The Project:
This is the “Vaccine of Liberty” that is currently locked due to the lack of accessibility, both nationally and globally. The vaccine of liberty symbolizes the ideals of equity, which is restricted by corporate healthcare services and big pharmaceuticals companies centered around garnering profits.
STRATEGIES:
TRY THIS:
Print it and stick it.
Make it specific to your target.
What worked?
This project lead to greater insight into shaping tactics to reach our target. At the end of the process, we had a cute sticker to share with others!
Reflections from Shivesh Shourya
About this project
Creators:
- Shivesh Shourya
- Eshita Garg
- Mahayana Landowne
- Carly Besser
- Rachel Gita Karp
November, 2020
United States, Newark
2048 x 2048 pixels