Get your yard sign.

A COMMUNITY COLLABORATION

Here’s one for you: a designer, a programmer, a community organizer, a communications task force and a group of committed peace and justice types ranging from well-seasoned academics to bright-eyed progressives get together to advocate for a better world. It’s a collaboration of the first order with high-minded goals concerning matters of crucial importance.

The focus is how to make a peace and justice organization more effective at making peace and justice happen. In the back of a local coffee shop, huddled over the local paper with some veggie sandwiches and fair trade coffee, the plotting and scheming goes strong once a week for many months. Usually in good spirits, with lively discussion and debates about how a little non-profit organization moves forward, what has come out of the effort has been something quite remarkable. We certainly accomplished a streamlining our communications efforts, developing a new website, creating several media campaigns to stoke the political fires and training key staff members on technology that can be used to keep things current. But there’s also been a rejuvenation of the collective spirit. I saw what I thought was glowing from several people at one of the last meetings. It could be because we’ve finally seen the sun out here in the Midwest, but I like to think it’s been this whole “working together” thing that’s the root cause of the newly intense hues.

A bumper sticker for every bumper in Nebraska

Hang out in Lincoln long enough, especially downtown, and you’ll come across several deep blue bumper stickers reading “Nebraskans for Peace.” It’s probably one of the most successful bumper sticker campaigns in American history. And a nice visual mark of identity in the community. (If anybody needs one, I’m sure I can get a couple dozen by the end of the day to whomever’s asking.) In the back of that local coffee shop, a rag tag bunch of liberal peaceniks responsible for those stickers got together to grow this organization. And in between deep conversations about the sad state of affairs for America’s foreign policy, I’d say success has been had. We set out many months ago to make Nebraskans for Peace the best damn peace and justice group it could be, building on the old school tactics of political organizing while embracing some 21st century digital activism. And today, we are moving ahead as planned.

At the beginning of the process, a communications plan was put together. Nebraskans for Peace is the oldest group of this nature in the country, so we needed to re-establish core principles and look at the changing landscape, both in political and technological terms. There are definitely things the organization does well, and of course, other things not-so-much. But coming back to the focus on community building, education and political action, after 40 years of existence, 2010 certainly was an appropriate time to look at making this little non-profit better at being a voice for change out here on the great plains.

Communications Overview for 2010

To make Nebraskans for Peace better at what it does, we looked at four areas: online, in hand, via telephone, and face to face. A new website that can be easily updated by anyone working for the organization. A continued push for thoughtful articles and stories in the bi-monthly publication called the Nebraska Report. A renewed effort at phone conversation and dialogue with the membership and an increased presence in the community with rallies, marches and protests as well as more yard signs and bumper stickers. (Have a sticker already, how about one for your neighbor’s car?) All four areas are currently being carried out feverishly. Give it a year or two, with all of our streamlined advocacy, and war will most likely cease to be acceptable and will thus have to end as more and more people rush over to our side.

The two wars America is mired in are certainly one of the issues that brings people to the group. But as a peace and justice organization, the tent is meant to be big, and includes issues dealing with the environment, civil rights and economic justice and bullying in our schools. Broad thinking on global issues certainly informs the Priorities, but how they apply locally is where the most impact can be had. If Nebraskans for Peace isn’t concerned about the military base just down the road that’s conducting warrantless wiretaps on our citizens or orchestrating drone strikes on Afghans, then who else will be?

Stop the Drones

It’s the grassroots versus the drones. Those drone planes that drop bombs indiscriminately on villages. The tea party droners who go on and on about government spending but have yet to make a peep about our bloated war budgets. And those war hawk droners who love to hold up all the marvels of our technological prowess as if that’s the high point of human accomplishment — dropping a bomb in Yemen from a control panel in Nebraska.

The new, shiny NebraskansforPeace.org

The website is the online arm of the group. Carrying articles of in-depth analysis as well as graphic campaigns designed to get to the heart of bigger issues. The military base is in our community, but those drones belong to everybody. Drones that carry quite an expensive price tag.

Goin' Broke Paying for War

The “Goin’ Broke Paying for War” campaign has become a focus in these times of seemingly unending war. It’s especially appropriate as the worry about deficits grows and the cries against “big government” get louder. The fact is this: if you want to cut down on our debt you cannot do it without cutting our war budget. We spend an absurd amount on blowing things up. Way more than we spend on kids, the elderly, our roads or sick people combined. It’s really kind of sad, building up all that weaponry while the livingry is left to fight over table scraps.

It’s as if we’re out for a crazy night at the carnival thinking our time in the bounce house never stops. We just keep jumping up and down, laughing and giggling as our bodies flail about. Perpetual motion, getting “massive air”. On and on, forever and ever. That is, until China won’t lend us money any more and the whole things deflates. Out there in a dessert. And there we are, with a case of motion sickness and no sense of direction.

As many as you need.

It’s Fourth of July time in 2010 and the battle of ideas in America continues to go on. One side is saying we spend too much, therefore strip down government. Cut medicare, privatize social security and really take on the deficit. The other side simply says, stop spending all our money on war. That’s the side I’m on. The side that says enough of these stupid, pointless wars, 700+ military bases all over the world and this thirst for empire that’s done so all other countries will do what we say. C’mon, it’s just not a 21st century way to behave.

Goin’ Broke indeed. Because of all the war we’ve got goin’ on. It seems too easy anymore, talking to my conservative friends who think we can’t afford Universal Health Care. My response: shift priorities and we got it no problem.

So my question now is, can there be common ground? Is the Tea Party and the Coffee Party set for a union of sorts? Perhaps Obama’s push for bipartisanship is rubbing off on me. Really though, the problems we face are large. Structural problems that exist at the core of our country, whether in education, economy, environment, foreign policy or our general sense of unhelpful exceptionalism. They require a large effort in response. The “fix” cannot just exist along the margins. It must be a full-on assault of all our best intentions from everywhere by everyone. With so much uproar brewing over our debt, it just may be the thing to bring together far left and far right in a very kumbaya moment.

In the back of that little coffee shop it can all certainly seem insignificant. The anti-war movement in general can seem insignificant. The noise it’s made over the last decade hasn’t really accomplished much. Though we didn’t have a major cable news network to back us. But still. One can easily become disheartened. Feelings of futility sink in. It seems like nothing is happening. And nothing is going to change.

But that’s really not true. It’s just self-inflicted drama grabbing hold. Take an honest assessment, and things are getting better. At least for this little community of collaborators. The general agitators that enjoy each other’s company enough to make the little incremental movements that assure the rest of the population that yep, we peaceniks are out here. Still making noise. As long as there’s war to be had, they’ll be peace to throw at it.

So from the designer, the programmer, the community organizer, the communications task force and the group of committed peace and justice types, here’s to a better world.

– Justin Kemerling, Designer. justinkemerling.com

The Social Communication Project

Though you will be asked to design a social poster on a social brief for a nongovernmental organization only a few times in your career, it is nonetheless true that, year after year, charities are in dire need of raising public awareness on their daily activity. It’s GOOD 50×70 2010. You know what to do.

HEALTHCARE DEPRIVATION Andre Casaclang, Australia, 2009 Edition

GLOBAL WARMING Malgorzata Bedowska, Poland, 2009 Edition

READY TO BLOW Gökhan Apaydın, Turkey, 2009 Edition

Right now, almost a billion people on the planet don’t have access to clean, safe drinking water.

Scott Harrison of Charity: Water spoke last Friday at the Big Omaha conference. I’d say it was the best of the weekend. An impassioned plea to end the water crisis. To take on that far too high a number of one billion people that lack access to clean water. His story is truly inspiring. Reimagining the idea charity, creating a design that doesn’t suck, and allowing people to connect to the cause on the ground they decide to support. In this case a well for $5000 that serves 250 people with clean, safe water.

It is a crisis. And we can solve it. In Scott’s words: If not now, when? If not us, who?

Big Omaha 2010

Big Omaha is Silicon Prairie News’ (SPN) premier event, held each May in Omaha, Nebraska. This year’s speakers include Tony Hsieh of Zappos.com, Dennis Crowley of foursquare and Scott Harrison from Charity: Water.

There’s a new generation of innovators and entrepreneurs who are passionately making their mark on our community and Big Omaha is for them. This event brings together the region’s best and brightest to motivate, challenge, excite and connect with one another, and in turn raise the bar on the level of work we’re producing.

Should be a good time. And props, of course, to the guys at Oxide Design for the nice, nice design.

From Big Omaha 2009

Certified B Corporation

B Corporations are a new type of corporation which uses the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. Part of the responsibility revolution.  

Some notable B Corps

capital punishment breaches the universal declaration of human rights. it's that simple.

poster for tomorrow, an international project to promote active citizenship through the medium of design, has announced their competition for 2010. This year they’re calling for universal abolition of the death penalty under the theme: death is not justice. Download the Call for Entries.

We believe in design, and posters, as a medium to inspire social change. What you create as an artist, graphic designer or art director can inform, provoke emotion and motivate people to action. It’s a great gift. And a gift you can use to inspire change in the world. We believe the death penalty is a violation of human rights and that it has no place in modern society. And that’s what we want to change in 2010. We hope you’ll join us. One poster is a start. But hundreds, thousands, become a movement that cannot be denied.

A collaborative effort by the design community to help effect change.

My wife and I like to make time to work on projects together. She’s more of a writer, myself more of a designer. Together, we’re a force to be reckoned with. Recently, as tragedy struck Haiti, and the world scrambled to find ways to help, we wanted to spend some of our time together making something that could be part of the effort to help the people living through such a horrendous situation.

With the goal of raising $1,000,000 for Doctors Without Borders, The Haiti Poster Project was conceived as a collective effort by the design community to unite and effect change. This collaboration of artists and designers from around the world benefitting victims of the earthquake in Haiti was an effort we whole-heartedly support. And we made this poster together for the effort.

Limited Edition 3-Color Silk Screen

140C Pop-Tone Sno Cone French Paper

The site launched March 23. You can purchase the posters beginning on April 5, 2010.

“When others are in trouble, we feel it in our hearts. And it’s with our hearts, we reach out to help in any way we know how. ‘Compassion to the Rescue’ is a phrase that can ring true to anyone anywhere. This whimsical, hand-drawn design is meant to bring smiles and inspire action. With a little love, we can do anything, especially help all those people who are hurting in Haiti.” –Katie Kemerling

All money raised will be donated to Doctors Without Borders.

Personal pledge cards for our community group Lincoln Green by Design.

This article is part of The Volunteer Design Chronicles appearing on Design Observer.

On a random weekend evening my wife and I decided to sit down and write some lines about environmental stewardship. They turned into personal pledge cards for a community organization I got myself involved with called Lincoln Green by Design. The cards were designed in an eco-friendly way, made out of paper scraps from past print runs. The messages were both sustainable and witty. One of my personal favorites was “I will eat local. Food not people.” Right up there with “I will stop (using plastic sacks) in the name of love.”

Our small effort was just one part of a bunch of other small efforts by a handful of dedicated creative people who jumped in and helped make this loose collection of concerned citizens into something worthy of attention.

There has never been a budget. No real hierarchy. Certainly no hard, fast timelines. The only thing we could count on was a monthly meeting led by our group’s founder. But what started as a four-page outline of goals/actions has became a visible advocate for a sustainable future in our city.

Now, in terms of visual communications, taking on the design of such a group has been an exercise in volunteering where a designer is just another citizen. And the messy workings of a community organization has led to both “pull your hair out” and “stand up and cheer.” How the identity design has worked shows it’s possible, with extremely limited resources and a good amount of stubborn dedication, to make something happen in your community. Right now. Today. There’s a good chance any given area has people who are good at graphic design, illustration, Web design, programming, writing, event planning, connection making, community organizing, public speaking and joke telling and want to get their hands dirty. Put all those together and you’ve got something that’s ready for positive impact.

1.5 inch buttons. Strength in numbers.

Here’s a quick rundown on how this all came together: I sign up for an email list at which time I find out about a gathering of like-minded environmentalists, so I go. I get invited to dinner the next night to talk about a new organization that’s starting. I get briefed at the dinner. It’s a group that wants to get our local government to think sustainably and in the long-term. The usual things are needed first: logo, brand, Web site, etc. It’s an exciting endeavor that I decide to help in any way I can. I go to my first lunch meeting with a group of about 15 people. We all sit around a big table and discuss our goals. I present my concepts. We discuss. Everybody has their say. We decide on a direction. I finalize things and we have a design.

As things have unfolded, I’ve become a firm believer in a community’s ability to come together and work toward a common goal for a greater good. This group is committed to making our city green by design. And with our intentions and our efforts, we will help Lincoln get there.

Several other designers started getting involved. Brochures and posters were designed. Illustrations were created. Events were planned to showcase LEED architecture. A printer who is working at becoming the greenest printer in Nebraska lent its services. A local design firm offered to build our site. A wildly successful Earth Day celebration was planned and executed.

Screenprint Posters. Power Lincoln Forever.

LEED in Lincoln Event Postcards.

LincolnGreenbyDesign.com: A community hub.

And, of course, we Facebook. Even the Mayor’s Sustainability Coordinator has taken note of the impact our little band of volunteers has had thus far and recognizes the important role we can play in shaping our future policies.

Friend us on Facebook.

What makes me smile when I think about where this group is at today, is just how haphazard, random and messy the whole process has been. Opinions differ. Signals get crossed. Ideas misunderstood. Commitments broken. Meetings forgotten about. Balls dropped. There are false starts and missteps. People move away or stop coming to meetings. New people enter the mix. We of course talk a good game which sometimes leads to that feeling that we aren’t getting anything done. All the while, slowly trudging along.

We aren’t the most efficient group around. And the design process is constantly in flux. But we have certainly built something. The design apparatus that is Lincoln Green by Design holds the thinking and activism of a volunteer community of dedicated individuals who intend to leave the world better than we found it.

Working for a sustainable Lincoln and Lancaster County.

We are a small part of a global movement working on a local level to create a sustainable future. It’s the kind of effort that’s important enough to bring in talented people who are ready to role up their sleeves and get to work. And who have a sunny enough disposition to keep at it when things go a little haywire or our budget of zero goes more into the red. It’s about community. It’s about people coming together to make change where they live. And it’s certainly something my wife and I can get behind. Enough so that we write lines about not eating local people on the weekend.

All of the work shown here are collaborative efforts between a very dedicated group of community-minded creative people. Many thanks to Katie Kemerling, Ashley Rolf, Kevin Fitzgerald, Brad Kindler, Ken Johnson, Miriah Zajic and A to Z Printing, Clint! Runge and Brandon Miller from Archrival, Christine Hunt, Stuart Long, Tyler Mainquist, Dan King, David Ochsner, Cecil Steward and the Joslyn Institute for Sustainable Communities.

– Justin Kemerling, Designer. justinkemerling.com

Handpulled for Haiti | Mayday by Karen Koch

From W+K Studio: A benefit show for the Haiti relief effort, all PRINT proceeds go directly to Mercy Corps. Our friends Karen, Curt and Steve are part of the effort with some lovely posters. The opening was February 4th in Portland. You can visit their online store to make a purchase and help the cause.

Frustration by Curtis Pachunka | We Need Somebody by Steve Denekas

DesignforHaiti.com: A creative call to action to design.

Design for Haiti is another design project from Aaron Perry-Zucker (Design for Obama, makeUSgreen). The mission: to collect Haiti posters that either advocate relief efforts or visualize information leading to a better understanding of the situation in Haiti. “We are especially seeking top notch info graphics that give the audience an ‘ah-hah’ moment where they learn something and perhaps see the situation differently.” Consider it a creative call to action to design. The following images are several fine examples.

Ayudemos a Haití by Neos Brand | The Living sleep among the Dead 2 by Christopher Griego

Help Haiti by Xhengis | Aid Within by deedee914