Material: Online/web thing

IU Stands for…

Objective:

The objective was to create an image that convinced people at Indiana University that they should sign the Open COVID Pledge. We wanted to use the university’s language and actions to show them that they were already doing things that aligned with the ideas behind the OCP.

The Project:

This is a digital image that highlights how signing the Open COVID Pledge aligns with Indiana University’s values and activities. We emailed it to university leaders.

STRATEGIES:
TRY THIS:

Make a version for your target.

What worked?

We revised this project several times before we sent it to IU leaders – each revision made it stronger.

About this project
Creators:
  • Emilie Seibert
  • Laura Holzman
  • Sofia Hessler

May, 2020

Image/graphic, Online/web thing

United States, Bloomington

variable

Public Domain

Other Notes:

We did a lot of background research for this graphic. The first box filled with scattered words surrounding “IU Stands For” are words that come directly from IU’s missions, values, and goals statement. We wanted to show the university that if these are your goals then you should support the OCP. Additionally, “#IN this together” and “Fulfill the Promise” are both phrases/language that IU uses frequently. We then looked into what the university was already doing to support open access. As the graphic shows, we found that IU was using open access 3D printing designs to print PPE to fight the pandemic, an IU professor created an open access origami mask, and the university had created an open access database to track COVID information.

We’ve shared some of our drafts as well as the final image.

  • Original files can be provided for exhibition

Reflections from Emilie Seibert

What was the process/journey of creating this work?

I included some additional images of earlier drafts. The idea for this came in a group brainstorming session, we mostly wanted to find a way to use what IU was already doing to show them they can take the next step and sign the OCP. Emilie created the very colorful original design. The group then had another meeting where we refined the image. Laura made the drawings.

Free the Vaccine Snapchat filter

Objective:

To use the filter to generate awareness about Free the Vaccine and its aims. Also, to run this filter in Zoom meetings using SnapCamera (https://snapcamera.snapchat.com/) so that people would ask about the image connected to my head. This sparked many conversations about Free the Vaccine!.

The Project:

This is a Snapchat filter I created that sports the Free the Vaccine Logo as a face-tracking headband.

STRATEGIES:
TRY THIS:

Use it.

Redesign it.

What worked?

This work generated a lot of questions and a lot of joy!

About this project
Creators:

April, 2020

Image/graphic, Online/web thing

United States, Brooklyn

Digital

Public Domain

Download Original/High-Resolution File: freethevaccine-Snap.gif

Other Notes:

  • A set of instructions exists on how to make this work

Links:

Reflections from Joseph Amodei

What was the process/journey of creating this work?

It was exciting to use my new media art skills to adapt an activism strategy that evolved from the situation created by the pandemic (i.e. living on Zoom).

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 make more filters, create them in all different languages, and publish them across a wider variety of platforms.

If someone else were going to make/use/do something like this, what advice would you give them?

This type of internet/new media work is easier to get into than one might think! Give it a try!

The Not So Average Singing Card

Objective:

The objective was to introduce a researcher developing a vaccine in Switzerland to the Open COVID Pledge. We wanted to send a letter versus an email, as we feel it’s more personal, but thought it important to put a creative spin on the humble letter.

The Project:

Bored of sending standard letters that don’t necessarily get read? Try something new and send a singing card! We designed the card ourselves, plus recorded our message and inserted it into the card. You may have seen musical birthday cards before — well, now you can send your own musical access to medicines card!

STRATEGIES:
TRY THIS:

Make a version for your target.

What worked?

It’s super easy and creative! We feel it’s more engaging for researchers, and it’s just not that hard or expensive to make. We feel that makes it an accessible and effective action.

About this project
Creators:
  • Alessandra Saviotti
  • Sofie Farkas
  • Jessica Schepis Martinez

April, 2020

Online/web thing, Print

Netherlands, Amsterdam

N/A

Creative Commons BY-NC

Link to Original or High-Res file

Other Notes:

  • A set of instructions exists on how to make this work
  • Original files can be provided for exhibition

Reflections from Sofia Weiss Goitiandia

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?

If I had all the time and money, I’d really like to scale up the action. Get graphic designers on board, and formalise the fabrication process to make the cards look really professional. Then send them to everyone! In that way, I’d hope we’d make them an iconic tool for contacting researchers / other stakeholders in access projects. And of course it would be great if all the researchers kept the cards and then decorated their desks with them.

If someone else were going to make/use/do something like this, what advice would you give them?

Making the card is really easy and relatively cheap, you just need an EZSound module (most common options are 30” or 60”) that you can buy online for around 10 EUR and record your message. The louder the better! Most of the devices record a looped message, so be aware that can be overwhelming! But perhaps that’s the intention. (If you check out the interview video with us, we talk about how that was our intention and the effect of a looped message!) Pay attention to how to assemble the card, the mechanism needs to be activated while one opens it; it is actually easier doing it rather than trying to explain it. We suggest testing a couple of times to understand the right position of the recorder before glueing it to the card. The easiest way is to get a musical card first (the one you can find for birthday wishes for example) and disassemble it, so you’ll see how it is. Good luck!