SF State News {University Communications}

Image: Photos of SF State students and scenes from around campus

University unveils Web redesign

February 8, 2008 -- SF State today rolled out a new Web design template that will provide a visually appealing and unifying design for the University's colleges and departments.

Students’ designs take national spotlight

January 25, 2008 -- For Adrienne Aquino, designing the official T-shirt for the Focus the Nation teach-in on climate change wasn't just a design project; it was a foray into sustainable fashion.

Adrienne Aquino.

Green schemer: Geography graduate student and T-shirt designer Adrienne Aquino.

The assignment was perfect for Aquino, a design and industry alumna pursuing a master’s degree in geography. After working as a professional graphic designer of glossy “coffee table” books, Aquino became all too familiar with the large amounts of paper, ink and chemicals consumed by the design and publishing industries. She came to SF State to learn more about environmentalism and play a larger role in the environmental movement.

While serving as a volunteer for Focus the Nation, Aquino was asked to design a "sustainable" T-shirt for the event -- one that wouldn't become outdated after the teach-in and could be worn on many occasions. Aquino chose to feature images of windmills on the shirt, which are part of Focus the Nation's logo, and remove any references to dates. "I wanted the shirt to be more fashionable than promotional," she said. "I wanted it to say, 'Hey, I'm youth, I'm educated about this issue, and I'm doing something about it.'"

Aquino recruited students from Design and Industry Senior Lecturer Nancy Noble's introductory graphic design course to create customizable posters that all colleges and universities could use. She provided the students with several statements about climate change and asked them to interpret those statements with images. Focus the Nation’s national organizers selected posters designed by students Marcus Handy and Yong Song Lee to be used nationwide.

As one would expect, the posters hanging at SF State will be printed on 100 percent recycled paper with soy-based inks by locally-owned green printing firm, A. Marcel Printing, which donated the printing costs.

A student designed poster to promote Focus the Nation.

Posters designed by students Yong Song Lee and Marcus Handy will be used across the country to promote Focus the Nation.

Aquino plans to continue her work as a freelance designer while exploring her interests in human geography and land-use planning, in addition to attaining a “green business” certification for her design shop.

As for her experience with Focus the Nation, "It confirmed that the decision I made to further my education and practice more sustainable design was the right one."

For more information, visit the Focus the Nation Web Site.

-- Barbara Hanscome

-- Michael Bruntz

 

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