Tag: Collaborate

Solidarivir – a first-line treatment against Covid-19

Objective:

Solidarivir was a a tatic that integrates the strategy planned by students in Brazil to invite the top #1 university that requests biotech patents in the country. Inside it’s box, a letter to UFMG was delivered. The idea was to symbolize that more than 350 people within UFMG’s community were offering the university an opportunity to unlock its solidarity – the first line treatment for a pandemic.

The Project:

A box that was covered with paper and painted to resemble a generic drug package according to Brazilian specifications. Solidarivir is the name of the drug. The dosage is 19mg. Where we would see “oral use” on an official generic package, we see “uso colaborativo” – which means “collaborative use”. Where we would see “generic drug”, we see “acesso garantido”, which means “access guaranteed”. Where we would see the name of the manufacturer, we see “UFMG” – the name of the university solidarivir was given to as an invitation. We can see solidarivir is locked with a padlock made of paper and glitter. In order to open solidarivir’s box, you need to damage the padlock. Solidarivir comes with a big key made of paper, where you can see “UFMG” and 350 signatures. These signatures represent more than 350 people who signed a letter to UFMG inviting the university to sign the share its knowledge widely to end the pandemic. The letter was delivered inside solidarivir’s box.

https://www.facebook.com/304854539581236/videos/1156385578044457/
STRATEGIES:
TRY THIS:

Make a version for your target.

Make it specific to your community.

What worked?

Solidarivir’s simbology was really interesting. Its pictures helped us publishing a text about the initiative in the local news. It was also published in Le Monde Diplomatique Brasil to illustrate a text about the role of public universities in ending the pandemic.

About this project
Creators:
  • Luciana Lopes
  • Lucas Magno
  • Alicia Moreira
  • Gean Araújo
  • Daniela Pena

May, 2020

Installation/Intervention

Brazil, Belo Horizonte

30cmx22cmx15cm

Public Domain

Download Original/High-Resolution File: WhatsApp-Image-2020-05-08-at-12.50.59.jpeg, WhatsApp-Image-2020-05-06-at-22.54.09.jpeg

Other Notes:

  • Original files can be provided for exhibition

Links:

Reflections from Luciana Lopes

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 send solidarivirs to all public universities in Brazil! But I would make the boxes way bigger to get a lot of attention.

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

Take care when using glitter. IT GETS EVERYWHERE. Three months later, I can still find glitter around.

High Visibility. Low Risk.

Objective:

Our larger objective was to get Indiana University to sign the Open Covid Pledge. With this image we wanted to initiate the conversation in a way that wouldn’t be overlooked as easily as a typical email might.

The Project:

This is a screen shot of a section of an email that we sent to leaders at Indiana University. First we designed images of hand-decorated facemasks that connected the Open Covid Pledge to IU values. We then photoshopped them onto the headshots of IU leaders we were emailing about the Open Covid Pledge. We paired the image with text that highlighted how IU had already embraced open licensing in the fight against COVID-19. We emphasized that for IU, signing the Open Covid Pledge would be “High Visibility, Low Risk.” The email included relevant hyperlinks and a brief introductory message.

STRATEGIES:
TRY THIS:

Make a version for your target.

What worked?

These messages combined images and language that we’d been exploring in other contexts – here it really came together cohesively. Also, everyone we sent these images to responded to us (although these images might not be why that happened).

About this project
Creators:

May, 2020

Image/graphic, Online/web thing, Writing

United States, Indianapolis

variable

Creative Commons BY-NC-SA

Other Notes:

Reflections from Laura Holzman

What was the process/journey of creating this work?

We initially wanted to do something that had a personal touch. We also wanted to connect signing the Open Covid Pledge to IU’s values and to celebrate a way that the university had already contributed to the open sharing of information related to the pandemic. An IU professor had designed an origami face mask and freely shared the pattern. We’d identified key IU values for a previous project, and we thought it might work well to put those values and a mention of the Open Covid Pledge on one of the origami masks.

It wasn’t feasible to send hand-painted face masks, so we came up with a digital alternative. Megan is a painter, so she made an image of the embellished masks. We considered just sending an image of the mask but decided instead to photoshop it onto the headshot of the person we were sending it to. That extra step made it more personal – and it’s hard to ignore a picture of your own face. By doing this we ended up making an image that envisioned the outcome we wanted – leaders at IU supporting the Open Covid Pledge.

We paired the image with some carefully written text – language that we hoped would be short enough that someone would read it, and language that made a clear case for why IU should adopt the Open Covid Pledge.

Another important factor here is that I’m a professor at IU – I sent the emails from my university address with a personalized note that explained that this was related to my scholarship. Even though this email didn’t make anyone immediately sign the pledge, we think it put the issue on a number of people’s radars and helped open up a conversation.

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.

Plants for Covid Research Champions

Objective:

Two things – firstly it provides a strong physical and visual way to create a movement of appreciation, that is easy to share, easy to participate in, and ethical in its design (both environmentally and for social distancing / shielding).
Secondly, it is a positive and celebratory way to get the attention of scientists and researchers, building awareness at multiple levels of an institution about the Open Covid Pledge (not just the TTO offices, but the scientists who might be more sympathetic). This helps put more pressure on the institutions as we build supporters.

The Project:

In appreciation of those researching treatments, diagnostics and vaccines for Covid-19, we dedicated plants to Covid Research Champions. Anyone could join in with a plant dedication, and as long as they tagged us on twitter or insta, we made sure the scientist was aware of it.

STRATEGIES:
TRY THIS:

Dedicate a plant.

What worked?

The positivity of it was what worked best – as seen in the responses from scientists.

About this project
Creators:

April, 2020

Image/graphic

United Kingdom, London

490 × 874 534KB

Other Notes:

If there was a flaw, it was that there were perhaps too many steps to be simple – we were open about which researchers to target, perhaps we should have focused more on just one or two and bombarded them with flowers and dedications.

  • A set of instructions exists on how to make this work
  • An original object can be provided for exhibition
  • Original files can be provided for exhibition
  • The work can be reproduced on site with instructions (provided)

Links:

Reflections from Rachel Reid

What were some of the responses to this work?

Nice responses from scientists thanking us for the dedications
Positive engagement from colleagues outside our team within Free the Vaccine, and friends with their kids, who did their own dedications.

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 targeted on individuals, more sharing to get a real movement going on. More planting!

Respiratory Therapists for a Free Vaccine

Objective:

To get front line workers that work to save the lives of COVID-19 patients to show their support.

The Project:

A team of respiratory therapists from the hospital that recorded the first COVID-19 death in the United States, EvergreenHealth Medical Center, outside of Seattle, WA, took pictures holding signs calling for a free vaccine.

STRATEGIES:
TRY THIS:

Share it on social media. #FreeTheVaccine #PeoplesVaccine

Make a version with people from your community.

What worked?

Compelling images

About this project
Creators:

April, 2020

Image/graphic

United States, Seattle

3024 x 4032 px

Public Domain

Link to Original or High-Res file

Other Notes:

Reflections from Eric Olson

What was the process/journey of creating this work?

While thinking about ways to create images of people showing their support of the Free the Vaccine campaign, a respiratory therapist friend (the people who put critical patients on respirators) told me about his recent short stories reflecting on the experience of working at the first hospital overwhelmed with COVID-19 hospitalizations and with the first recorded COVID-19 death in the United States. I later reached out to him to see if he and his colleagues would do a photoshoot and they were happy to help.

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!