Physical Language

Describe your idea and concept of your work in relation to the festival outlines:

The purpose of my assignment is to bring awareness towards those who cannot hear and to include them in their everyday life. This will be completed through the use of stickers with sign language to describe locations, compliments or sentences to place where the public like. The stickers will be free and located around the city, cafes, stations and tram stops and also online to print before they go out. There will also be large posters placed around the place with similar messages and signs. This will prevent the isolation of deaf people and bring some fun to the public to try and learn basic sign to interact and have dialogue with deaf people.

What kind of communication approach do you use?

My communication approach is to involve the community and encourage them to collect and learn from the cards, stickers and badges provided. I chose this approach because if the topic was forced upon the public, then people will less likely participate whereas if it is up to them then they will fell more lenient.

What are in your opinion concrete benefits to the society because of your communication?

The concrete benefits to the society through my communication is that everyone is getting involved in a positive manner and that they are learning how easy it is to communicate to deaf people if you just put in a small effort. They get the chance to collect the badges, cards and stickers with friends. The fact that the badges have compliments written on them means that they can hand them to strangers or even people that they know. This means that it is making someone’s day from one small action, it is bringing happiness to the community.

What did you personally learn from creating your submitted work?

From creating this work I have personally learnt some basic sign and the importance of including others. I have visited youtube videos and websites made by deaf people who want to be heard and included which has gone straight to my heart making me want to make a difference. I have learnt that you don’t need to have a personal connection with deaf people in order to make a difference and to include them in your life. I have also learnt that using simple posters and advertisements won’t always make an impact on others, it needs an interactive element to it to make them involved.

Why is your work, GOOD communication WORK?

My work is good advertising work because of the message it is sending. It doesn’t just address the topic and tell people what to do with it, each element of my work can be used and shared however the participant likes. They can share a compliment with someone who needs one, they can try to communicate through sign to others, and also stick the stickers anywhere that they would like. I believe that a good piece of design doesn’t straight out tell someone what to do with it or how to interpret it, a good design is one that involves others and can be carried out however the individual would like it to be.

Where and how do you intent do implement your work?

I intend on having my work set up in a few popular destinations in the city. Some locations would include Federation Square, Melbourne Central and Southern Cross Station. The banners will range in size according to the location and what is available. The banner itself will be made of a thick recyclable cardboard because a calico banner would bow around too much and the cardboard is easily disposed of. It is an easy to set up piece of work and is easy and cost affective to keep the cards, badges and stickers stocked up. All of these elements are small in size so that they fit inside a wallet and pocket so that there will be less litter around the city. This ensures that people are more willing to keep the pieces if they are in a rush so they can look at them on the train, tram or even in their break at work.

Did your intervention had an effect on other Media. If yes, describe the effect? (Has other media reported on it- how? Were you able to change other media with your work- how?)

It has not had an effect