Last night at AIGA Charlotte’s Meet|Market event was the re|THINK poster exhibit. It was a poster competition for a way for designers to do their share to help save the earth. Posters were focused on inspiring the Carolinas to care more about their environment. There were many different styles, approaches, and ways to help the environment. It was hard to pick a favorite, but I like the picture of the tree with the thermostat the best; I think photography has a very strong power to make things seem real and true. You can view and purchase ($10 ea) all of the posters at rethinkposters.com.

I got inspiration from one of the posters, to put a bucket in the tub while I take a shower. It cuts down on half the amount of water I need to water my outdoor garden each day. I also like using my reusable bags to go to the grocery store, if I don’t have them on me and end up having to get plastic bags, I use them as my dog’s poop bags. I feel a little silly telling people I do these things, but doing small things not only helps the environment but it also makes you feel good, and hopefully it rubs off on others. What creative ways do you reduce, reuse, and recycle?

Some people may not see the point of helping the environment by reducing, reusing, and recycling, but I found two inspiring quotes:
“The choices we make as individuals are important, if only because I think humans work by example. What one person does, another will follow, and then we begin to see the numbers that will make a real difference.” Clare Harris, editor of New Consumer magazine.
“When the tipping point toward green shopping behavior is reached, when enough people change their behavior, then collectively we will make a difference.” CNN.com

I just completed my first group gallery show at Hart-Witzen Gallery in NODA. Our group decided on the name PRIMED, because we are primed and ready to go! The group consisted of Laura Stokes, Lydia Ko, Maggie Ngo, Justin Bobbitt, Paola Mateos, James Raven, Melissa Root, and myself; with the help of our professor, Eldred Hudson.

A lot of hard work and time went into making the show happen, but it was well worth it in the end. Our professors told us we had one of the best Senior BFA graphic design shows from UNC Charlotte and the best turnout. Some of us from the group distributed postcard invitations to every graphic design firm we could find in Charlotte. That was an adventure in itself.

My graphic design professors told me that they were very proud of me and how much I have grown since I first entered the program. I learned so much from doing this as a group. You can only count on yourself, and don’t even spend time worrying that everyone isn’t doing their fair share, just stuck it up and do it yourself or it will never get done. Some people are just not good team players. But in doing it as a group, I grew stronger from it. I’m not saying I would do it again, but maybe if I get to choose people I know I can rely on.

It was very exciting to see everything come together, the turnout, and simply seeing my name on the gallery wall. It was also a bit strange seeing my graphic design work displayed under gallery lights. It went by so fast, and before we knew it, it was 10:00pm and we had to take everything down. What an exhausting, overwhelming day!

View more pictures from the show