INTRODUCTION

There are some days where I feel everything is against me. Other days make it feel like it was meant to be. Scheduling an interview with an interviewee was a struggle, but I was finally able to find someone who expanded my personal approach and thoughts on my thesis topic.

To begin this exercise, I started with a list of interview questions related to my topic, and generated a list of possible interview candidates who are knowledgeable of sustainability. The list was expanded to their personal knowledge of the medical field issue, and how their design experience would lead them in this situation.

However, I contacted AIGA in Cincinnati, faculty members at Minneapolis College of Art and Design, a professor at Savannah College of Art and Design, and faculty from the University of Cincinnati. I heard back from two faculty, who never responded after our last communication. These idea candidates related to sustainability, graphic design, and the issue of syringes in the trash.

Alas, Giorgio Baravalle, Creative Director at de.MO, was willing to have a phone discussion informing me through his experience, knowledge, and perspective. I was able to reflect more on my topic and explore how graphic design will be utilized for a solution.  Baravalle’s film suggestion, “Puncture,” strongly related to my topic. It reveals a side of the health care industry people usually doesn’t see, and how profit influences decision-making, a point Baravalle touched upon during our discussion. I expanded questions to gain an understanding of his approach to design solutions, especially one so specific as mine. The questions previously created served as a guide, as I planned for other questions to evolve as the discussion went along; some smaller questions were asked, but only to clarify key points (those are integrated in the summarized answer). I also wanted to know what personally motivated him to create designs for socially responsible projects.

Q: Were you aware of the issue with the disposal of at-home used medical injection devices (such as needles and syringes)? 

This question was very general question, which Baravalle felt was difficult to answer. He knows of the current situation with syringe waste and safety, but has limited knowledge and therefore felt limited in design solutions. It was kind of difficult for him to say how graphic would impact this issue and how to consider a solution this early in design planning. Graphic design can impact this situation and it would be an issue to tackle, but more knowledge of this topic would be needed. It was probably best to answer my other questions first, and then come back to this one.

However, Baravalle, felt the first step would consider a design solution for the product, such as a retractable needle. Then, deciding on a solution on how to prevent people from throwing exposed needles in the trash would be the next step. Educating the public against the danger and how it affects others is key. A series of tools would be developed to make this happen. As we solve problems, we find solutions. Apps, web design, videos, and social media could be used to educate people, other than TV and traditional forms of communication.

Q: What design disciplines would you utilize in educating people about this problem? To my knowledge, there is no industrial design solution.

At this point, Baravalle introduced me to the film, “Puncture,” which follows a lawyer and his firm in revealing a side of the health care industry we don’t see (based on true story). It discusses syringe design and the avoidance of transmitting diseases through contaminated needles. A nurse has a needle-stick injury and contracts hepatitis, and she wants the firm to bring this issue to light. However, a product solution was developed, but the corporations involved shut it down. Baravalle felt this film was very relevant to my topic, and politely informed me that there is a solution – it’s just not public.

Baravalle’s reasoning about why syringe design hasn’t changed is because of the corporations…“end of discussion, right?” A solution has to work for the corporation, and it all comes down to profit and convenience (branching into politics). What’s needed is education and a change that works for society. It’s a challenging issue because it goes against capitalism. Sustainability isn’t necessary profitable, and therefore is a concern for corporations. It goes against them as a power, their beliefs, and goals. Without this barrier, this complex issue would be easy to solve and implement, however, it’s the corporations that seem to be halting the process.

Q: Have you had any projects with a connection to the medical/pharmaceutical field? Do you think sustainability is something they would be interested in?

Baravalle does have clients in the pharmaceutical field, but has not encountered medical projects related to sustainability.  Are these clients interested in sustainability? “Yes, maybe.” Again, it goes back to profit. Everybody loves to promote sustainability, as it will save us. One way or another, society will get there, but it’ll take longer to implement because of the corporation profit issue. The companies favor sustainability, but it would need to be a smart solution so they would still make their profit. A perfect compromise would please everyone, but it requires a huge amount of change.

Q: In your interview with PDN (2011), you mentioned liking to create designs that make the viewer think differently about everyday actions. What do you feel are the best design disciplines to visualize this practice?

Design disciplines (or mediums) change according to what you’re trying to accomplish. Baravalle discussed examples of his work such as the books based on 9/11 and Chernobyl. These are social problem issues, which are hard to identify and understand in society. As it’s hard to change people’s minds (“almost impossible”), what needs to be achieved is something that makes people think differently, thus the process of re-thinking. A design can’t propose what is wrong and right or it will turn the viewer away. What one needs to do is offer a different point of view, different solutions, and different ideas. People are more receptive to this, and will connect the dots on their own. Basically, designers start a process of viewer thinking by introducing a topic or making a suggestion, with the goal being the viewer taking initiative to research more and expand their ideas (“just a little nudge to start the process”). The process of informing changes every time, but the concept is the same. Keep in mind that there isn’t only one solution (“there could be 150 more”).

Baravalle stated that there is no universal way or method of saying how something should be done. A designer needs to utilize different concepts of the same subject. Designers have the power to make people think, and this is what makes the difference and how one approaches it different. Invoke a reaction from the viewer, which is to be different from the norm. Design solutions are a success if they follow this concept for every design project.

If one aggressively suggests a right or wrong solution, the immediate action is rejection (“it’s the way we’re built”). One doesn’t need to push too far or the audience won’t listen. Designers need to be clever and open about the issue, and draw people in.

At this point, Baravalle used the children in Africa campaign as an example of projects being stale. Because this campaign has used the same approach for a long time, people have become immune to the idea. He points out that we need to be careful of using imagery, and what it means to people.

Q: You mentioned in the same interview about how to not design for a specific target audience. As this thesis topic will initially be for consumers of a specific target audience, how do you feel this can impact society overall? Would there be a way to introduce everyone to this issue, even if they don’t use needles and syringes?

Baravalle explained with my design problem, I would have a target audience (the PDN interview was addressing another idea) as I’m addressing a specific issue and the people involved. However, one has to be careful not to make solutions so specific that it alienates the general public (you also have to educate them along with the target audience). (“Why alienate the rest of the population?”) The solution must be accessible to everyone, who must be able to understand and approach it. For an example, a candy is being targeted for 5-year old boys, so Baravalle would design a wrapper to appeal to this audience.  But, why would one alienate the rest of the population, such as a 40-year old man or woman, who might love this candy? Baravalle points out that this is a fault of marketing – why make something so specific, when it can appeal to everyone? Design needs to be able to cross the barriers that marketing puts into place, which again comes back to profitability.

Baravalle hypothetically explained how he was not part of issue now, as he never used needle in his life and may not in the future, but tomorrow his wife could start needing this type of medication. So, even if someone isn’t involved now, they could be through themselves or another person later. That’s why it’s better to create awareness and make it open to everyone, especially to ones who never knew of this issue.

Q: What design principles do you utilize in order to create solutions?  Does this include collaboration with other industries (not just the client) in producing a successful solution?

A successful solution is one that best solves the problem, which changes all the time. Baravalle doesn’t personally follow a specific method to solving a problem, as he believes different projects require different methods. His focus is on the client and collaboration; a designer must work with the client by researching and educating them, because when a client brings a problem, they do not really understand what it’s about (color theory, deeper meanings, etc.). One has to translate who the client is into a visual, and then explain the reasons for certain design approaches. If a designer doesn’t explain their choices to the client and just “make it pretty,” the client won’t ever really be happy because they’ll never understand what they’re viewing. A designer and client must go through the process together: a problem is brought to the table, the designer solves the problem, and then explains their solution and reasons. What a designer must do is sell what they think is good for their client, and in turn the client must believe them. A client’s decision on the fin al solution allows them to feel like they own the solution.

Is there a process? Yes and no. Everyone understands a problem, but each person creates a different solution due to diverse backgrounds and beliefs. It’s hard to find a general solution for every problem, but as long as one understands their own reasons and gives a good explanation, that’s the process to follow. This whole part of the process is vital to design.

At this point, Baravalle suggested that the first question I asked in the interview should be the last, as I would need to go through this similar process.

Baravalle then touched on how “pretty has nothing to do with graphic design.” When teaching, he asks students why they designed a “cool” logo. If they cannot place a reason, he tells them to revisit and to bring a concept and idea. He said he has given better grades to solutions that may be deemed “ugly,” but their idea was very strong, new and interesting (this is what made them “beautiful”). Designers need to be rewarded for this process and understanding, not just the end result.

Designers need to try different answers in order to make people think, and to get a reaction from the viewer. The solution has to have a purpose and really needs to evoke a strong reaction. It again goes back to the idea of implementing a subtle approach, and to start the process of thinking within the viewer.

Q: What was the turning point that personally convinced you to create design solutions for socially responsible projects?

Baravalle answered that it was two things that steered him in this direction. When he was out of school, he began to design numerous projects and felt he had a different perspective because of his background. However, it then began to become hollow and he was getting bored; nothing meant much in his work and he was just “making things pretty.” At this point, he was introduced to an Ambassador of Peace with the UN, who then contacted him for a book design about a social issue.

This introduction exposed him to a whole different world about TV and media. He then began diving into archives and contacting photographers. He discovered how stories not brought to attention because they were ones the media didn’t want to touch. There was a lot more to the eye than the media and government was letting on.

Then, 9/11 happened.

It was shocking. Why did this happen? But then there were no answers. Baravalle wanted to understand how things “came about.”

We are aware of current situations in the world, but we truly don’t understand them until we’re “hit in the face,” or it hits close to home. This was a key element for Baravalle as he became involved in socially-driven work.

CONCLUSION

I tried to keep this a brief conversation, as I know Baravalle was extremely busy, but I felt our conversation could have gone longer, as the discussion was very engaging. I was able to identify recurring themes in our conversation: creating different solutions to problems; how profit influences decision-masking (especially corporations); introducing an audience to a problem subtlety, allowing them to make the connections; starting the process of thinking/re-thinking within the audience; educating the public on issues and clients during the design process; and there is no universal method or process in solving a design problem.

These key themes will allow me to revisit my thesis topic from a different perspective: how to introduce the general public to the problem, while still connecting with the specific target audience. I would have to use a method allowing the audience to see the problem on their own, without forcing it on them. And I would need to discover all design outlets in order to decide on the best solution, which my research on consumers will help reveal. This again would also rely on heavy collaboration between various fields and backgrounds.

Because of Baravalle’s film suggestion, I believe I will be able to contact the law firm involved to see if I could gain their knowledge on corporation influence (there is more than what we’re seeing). As there is a product solution out there, but kept hidden, I really need to explore why corporations are halting this safety device.

As this film wasn’t a mainstream event, I believe people are not aware of it, such as I.  If the issue the film highlights, and the corporations’ influence, was brought to the light, people would be able to re-think the problem and be proactive. As Baravalle says, we are aware of current situations, but it doesn’t really hit home until it’s “in your face.”

As mentioned before, I started with a list of interview questions related to my topic, and ones that pertained to my first list of interview candidates who were knowledgeable of sustainability. The list was expanded to their personal knowledge of the medical field issue, and how their design experience would lead them in this situation. However, when Giorgio Baravalle agreed to the interview, I expanded these questions to include his experience and concepts. I wanted the interview to be more of a discussion, rather than a Q-A session, which I felt I was able to achieve.

I think Baravalle was a little overwhelmed at first when seeing the list of questions, but when we conversed on the phone, I explained that these were more of a guideline, as I was looking to gain an understanding of his approach to design solutions (especially one so specific as mine). Some smaller questions did come up, but only to clarify key points and to make connections. I do feel letting Baravalle see these questions beforehand gave him insight on my topic and what I was wanting to gain from our interview.

Final Concept Map:

But for this class’s first run, I think it did pretty well.  We were told that this was a beta form…a skeleton…and that things would change from time to time.  Our class would set the example for this course’s track.  But, I do think the groundwork and timing of the course was well set; the goals well explained.  Everything connected and helped students progress to the final thesis statement version.  Worked kind of like a video game – we leveled up with each challenge. I admit that I knew how to do basic research, but not this intense.  I now feel that I can handle the pressure of research!

The biggest thing to me is the IRB, which Clark points out in her book.  Since SCAD is not a research institution, thesis work has not breached this barrier (well, maybe not to public knowledge).  But, there are times when a thesis topic can be considered human subject and research. I was able to get more information from UC’s IRB and they suggested this to future SCAD students who might need IRB review.  There are private IRBs, but they cost money.  And, SCAD students can approach other universities with their work, and possibly reap the benefits of that university.  UC is going to oversee my thesis work, and therefore will allow me to survey their patients.  Plus, UC seemed very interested in this topic as well.  Anyway, this can work for SCAD students as well at other institutions.  It’s always safer to get on the IRB’s good side instead of doing something where work is deemed inappropriate.  Journals also will not take published work without the IRB approval.  Even though SCAD students may not come across these journals, ones who include human subjects might do so.

Just something that might be added for those who might toggle upon this process. I had no clue where to start. Luckily, I work at a university where research is vital to their identity, and they know federal rules.

One thing I’ve learned…go back and try again.  Go back and revise.  A topic is ever-evolving and is never really set in stone until that approval by the final committee.  Keep revising and improving.  This thinking even goes into the thesis writing itself.  Listen to others and their thoughts, as this can help you establish yours.

            We, as a society, have turned to sustainability in order to reverse our way of negative thinking and actions towards the environment. It has emerged as a result of significant concerns about the social, environmental, and economic consequences of rapid population growth, economic growth, and consumption of our natural resources. Sustainability is based on a simple principle: everything we need for our survival and well-being depends either directly or indirectly on our natural environment. It ensures that we have and we will continue to have water, materials, and resources to protect human health and our environment (“Sustainability,” EPA). There are two methods of reducing negative human impact and enhancing ecosystem services, one being environmental management and the other being human consumption of resources.

Intertwined with this practice is waste produced by consumers, businesses, technologies and so forth. Some waste production is inevitable, such as a patient using a product to alleviate their illnesses. If a patient in a medical facility uses a product that creates medical waste, it is then properly disposed by medical and waste staff. However, if the consumer uses the medical device at home, the waste is improperly ‘thrown away.’ As there is no current regulation of home-generated medical waste in the United States, patients are disposing of their used medical injection devices in household trash, risking those who are exposed. A social, environmental, and economic solution is necessary, which is achieved through the collaboration and combination of problem-solving techniques and methods of graphic design and its disciplines, and the medical, pharmaceutical, and waste industries. With this unified response to the current situation, social awareness and safety regulations will be greatly improved for medical staff, sanitation workers, consumers, and the community.

During the past 150 years, the basic design, mechanics, and manual operation of the medical injection device has not changed much. Its purpose is to administer injections into the bloodstream, which diagnose, prevent, and treat diseases or other conditions. These ailments include allergies, migraines, diabetes, infertility, arthritis, IV, hepatitis, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, psoriasis, and others. Patients include humans and animals, males and females, and ages ranging from newborns to the elderly. Examples of medical injection devices used to administer medicine are syringes, lancets, needles, insulin pump tubing, continuous glucose monitor tubing, and insertion devices. Insulin pumps are used by approximately 375,000 Americans. Approximately 25 million Americans have diabetes, and it is estimated that about 26% (6.5 million Americans) are taking 1–4 insulin injections per day using over 13 million needles and syringes per day (Gold 848). 7.5 billion needles and syringes are used outside the healthcare system yearly in households, and this number does not reflect the number of lancets used by the previously mentioned 25 million diabetic patients. It is estimated that 1 in 12 households in the United States use a syringe for treatment (Gold 849).

The FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) strongly suggests to never place loose needles and other sharps in household or public trashcans or recycling bins, and to never flush them down the toilet. This places trash and sewage workers, janitors, housekeepers, household members, and children at risk of being harmed. If placed in public receptacles, those dependent on illegal drug abuse have the opportunity to use the already contaminated needles for the injection of illegal substances. But, the waste these medical injection devices produce is not currently regulated in the United States, and therefore, consumers are placing their needles and syringes in household and curbside trash, against the FDA’s suggestion. However, an individual does have the option of buying a container and finding a way to properly dispose of their used medical injection devices themselves, but this requires additional money, gas, mileage, and time. Therefore, placing this waste in household trash is more convenient for the patient, even if it does have harmful repercussions.

Curbside trash is taken to a materials recover facility (MRF), which begins a sorting process to separate designed recyclable material (different from voluntary recycling in which households participate) from the solid waste. Materials are then sorted either manually or through a mechanical sorting process; what is not recyclable is transported to a landfill. It is at this point in the process where sanitation workers are exposed to needle-stick injuries. These types of injuries are one of the top three injuries reported at MRFS (according to data tracked by waste management companies). Custodial staffs are also at risk at public venues (including hotels, airports, train stations, and large entertainment centers), but presently there are no data-tracking systems for these professions.

Currently, a limited number of regions in the United States offer a safe community disposal system for these devices. In 2004, the Environmental Protection Agency published Community Options for Safe Needle Disposal outlining the dangers of improper needle disposal and offering a variety of program options, none of which are mandatory:

• Drop-off collection sites
• Syringe exchange programs
• Mail-back programs
• Home needle destruction devices
• Household hazardous waste collection sites
• Residential waste special pick-up programs

State governments, municipalities, and companies are beginning to research and enforce their own policies to offer safer alternatives. For example, Senate Bill 486 (Pharmaceutical Manufacturer Sharps Disposal Plans), signed into law October 2009 in the state of California, requires a pharmaceutical manufacturer that sells and distributes medications in California, that are self-injected at home, to submit a plan describing how the manufacturer supports the safe collection and disposal of sharps and needles. The required plans must include a description of the actions, if any, to:

• Provide for safe collection and disposal of sharps
• Educate consumers about safe management and collection opportunities
• Support efforts by other organizations to promote the safe management of sharps

Because of this, Waste Management, a waste management, comprehensive waste, and environmental services company in North America, voluntarily submitted their own current plan describing the companies on-going efforts to: education the public on safe needle disposal; work cooperatively with public agencies to expand the infrastructure for the safe management of sharps waste; and provide each of their California employees and their families with a free, safe and convenient program for the collection and disposal of sharps wastes. It is of interest that Becton, Dickinson, and Company and Waste Management announced in April 2011 an agreement to recycle medical sharps waste from hospitals and other health care facilities. The companies are jointly launching the BD ecoFinity™ Life Cycle Solution, an innovative service that will recycle medical sharps waste and utilize the material to manufacture new products (Gold 849).

With examples of communities, states, and companies enacting their own solutions, why is the nation not correcting this problem as a whole? The most popular answer seems to be money. The disposal of medical waste is expensive, so who is going to bear this burden? The patient who already has high expenses? The local municipalities that will have to develop, implement, publicize, and enforce regulations? Waste management companies? Or should the manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies provide a solution? Some of these questions are being answered by communities, state governments, and companies, and are already spending their own money as they see this issue as one of their top priorities. However, these are questions and discussion points that need to be addressed in a cross-collaboration involving various fields and different backgrounds, including graphic design and its many disciplines, and the medical, pharmaceutical, and waste industries. The solution must be one that improves the current situation, while meeting the standards and goals of all the industries currently involved. Depending on the solution proposed, another industry such as mailing services might also become a collaborator due to its involvement in mail-back programs. Local, state, and federal governments might become involved at some point if they deem this situation needs to be mandated by law.

Every day, consumers make decisions that either have a huge impact on the environment, or of negligible importance. To those who care about their quality of life and what is currently happening, this can be a vastly important decision. The publication, The Consumer’s Guide to Effective Environment Choices: Practical Advice from The Union of Concerned Scientists, identifies the 4 most significant consumer-related environmental problems, the 7 most damaging spending categories, 11 priority actions, and the 7 rules for responsible consumption. All these are to help inform consumers about their everyday decisions that significantly affect the environment, which in turn connects to how sustainability came to fruition. The cross-collaboration must consider the consumer and their perspective as a part of their research, as it will provide insight of what the consumer contemplates when it comes to decisions that affect the environment, and if they even truly think sustainability is steering society on the correct path. During this perspective exploration, the psychology behind America’s complex relationship with the medical industry will reveal a deeper understanding of the damaging and dangerous oversights in current medical design.

While we have well-developed tools for tackling social issues based on thoughtful analysis and technological inventiveness, we have yet to apply design thinking to the exploration of new choices and alternative solutions. In his article, “Why Social Innovators Need Design Thinking,” Tim Brown explains design thinking is scalable and can be applied to improve existing ideas, or it can be applied to create disruptive solutions that meet the needs of people in new ways, which this current situation disparately requires. As design thinking is centered on innovating through the eyes of the end user, it can be applied by people from a broad range of backgrounds to problems ranging from creating new products and services to redesigning existing ones, such as this current problem.

As medical device manufacturers and pharmaceutical firms have begun to focus on company sustainable practices such as material selection and facility management, a product solution itself is not seen in the immediate future due to testing and approval processes. While pain-free, low cost, and easily transportable prototypes are being developed, waste disposal is still an afterthought. As for this cross-collaboration, current design solutions will include re-designing of packaging and creating awareness through web and print design. These, of course, will need to also go through the prototyping phase; however, this is more of feasible solution to the current situation.

One challenge the graphic design field will face is re-envisioning solutions as a less environmentally destructive practice, specifically package design. Designers will need to examine an array of techniques and methodologies for creating an innovative and sustainable package design, and one that keeps consumers from tossing used medical injection devices in the trash, and keeping them out of the hands of substance abusers. The cross-collaboration will have to consider if possible solutions will create more waste, and if there is a more sustainable material for the package design. In a way, the solution(s) will not reduce the amount of used medical injection devices, as that is still being investigated by product designers, but it will control the placement and safety of this waste.

As evidenced, the current situation is a social, economic, and environmental issue that must be solved. Even though the product design is something beyond reach at this point, graphic design and its disciplines, and the medical, pharmaceutical, and waste industries together can find a solution which will alleviate the issue of medical injection devices being placed in household and curbside trash. This collaboration will need to consider the best problem-solving techniques and methods in order to implement an effective solution, which will combine graphic design goals with those of the involved industries. This unified solution will create social awareness and improve safety for medical staff, sanitation workers, consumers, and communities. It will enable patients to participate and take action (even if it’s small step), as the process will be more environment-friendly convenient, unlike the current situation.

WORKS CITED

Boylston, Scott. Designing Sustainable Packaging. London: Laurence King Publishers, 2009. Print.

Brower, Michael, and Warren Leon. The Consumer’s Guide to Effective Environmental Choices: Practical Advice from The Union of Concerned Scientists. 1st ed. New York: Three Rivers Press, 1999. Print.

Brown, Tim. “Why Social Innovators Need Design Thinking.” Stanford Social Innovation Review, 2013. 2 Feb. 2013.

Butschli, Jim. “How leading pharma/device firms employ sustainability.” Packaging World, 3 July 2012. Packaging World. Web. 26 Jan. 2013.

Carroll, Jeremy. “Ban on needle disposal begins in Massachusetts.” Waste & Recycling News, 9 July 2012. Waste & Recycling News. Web. 26 Jan. 2013.

“Disposal of sharps – needles and lancets.” Diabetes UK, 2012. Web. 26 Jan. 2013.

Environmental Protection Agency. “Community Options for Safe Needle Disposal.” Washington, DC: Environmental Protection Agency, 2004. Print.

Hay, Mariah Ruth. Design and Our Health: The Link Between Comfort, Aesthetics and Healing. MFA Thesis. Savannah College of Art and Design, 2009. Print.

“Health Hazards in the Waste and Recycling Industry.” Health and Safety Executive (UK), n.d. Web. 3 March 2013.

Gold, Kathleen, R.N., M.S.N, C.D.E. “Analysis: The Impact of Needle, Syringe and Lancet Disposal on the Community.” Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology 5.4 (2011): 848-850. Print.

Kelland, Kate.  “Bioengineer Developing Needle-free Nanopatch Vaccines.” Reuters, n.d. Web. 2 Feb. 2013.

Leonard, Paul. “Sustainability in Medical Device Design: Turning Challenge into Opportunity.” Carbon Design Group, 2011. Web. 26 Jan. 2013

“Needles and Other Sharps (Safe Disposal Outside of Health Care Settings).”  U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 12 Dec. 2011.Web. 26 Jan. 2013.

“History of Medical Injection Devices.” Milestone Scientific, 2010. Web. 3 March 2013.

“Senate Bill 486: Reporting by Sharps Manufacturers.” CalRecycle, 2013. Web. 3 March 2013.

“Sustainability.” Environmental Protection Agency, n.d. Web. 3 March 2013.

I decided to ignore my initial reaction of finding sources through the Internet and contacted a reference librarian at SCAD. This was a first for me, as I usually use Internet library searches to find my own sources. My past experiences with librarians have led me down unnecessary, time-consuming paths; therefore I’d rather just search myself. But, I wanted to do this right.

I emailed one evening and got a response the following morning from a reference desk associate. He advised me to use JSTOR, a database that contains a wide variety of sources that are searchable in the same place. Ryan gave me tips on how to narrow my search with this database, using keywords and dates. I also learned that “reviews” generally mean book reviews, rather than exhibition reviews; the better word to use for these is “articles.”

My first search resulted in quite a large amount. Using the JSTOR database allowed me to quickly skim through pages that contained my search words (I had to use Adobe PDF to find some of them, though). However, after combing through these, there was not much success of finding a related source. But, I was able to find what exhibitions Matisse participated in through “American Art News.” Matisse participated in a 1908 exhibition at Photo-Secession Gallery, and another in 1913 called the Armory Show.

To gain more overall knowledge about these exhibitions, I decided to use JSTOR again. This, I believed, would better inform my search.

The Armory Show refers to the 1913 International Exhibition of Modern Art and ran in New York City’s 69^th Regiment Armory from February 17 until March 15, 1913. The Photo-Secession Gallery was also commonly known as 291 as it was located at 291 Fifth Avenue in New York City from 1905 to 1917. It was created and managed by photographer Alfred Stieglitz, and was originally known as “Little Galleries of the Photo-Secession.”

Alfred Stieglitz and his protégé, the photographer and painter Edward Steichen, decided they needed a refresh of ideas. Steichen, at the time, lived in Paris and had created connections with local artists. He sent over their exhibitions to Stieglitz, which included Matisse. 291 held the first exhibition of Matisse’s work in the United States in 1908, from April 6 to April 25. This works included innovative ways of portraying the human form that often shocked 291’s audience with depictions of sensuality and challenges to conventional ideas of beauty. Stieglitz’s aim was to instruct artists and the American public about the fundamental art and to provoke serious discussion.

Frank Anderson Trapp’s, The Armory Show: A Review, explains a group of artists concerned over the difficulties of exhibiting contemporary works (in late 1911) formed a corporation to further their cause, which they called the Association of American Painters and Sculptors. There were few galleries that were adequate enough to present these works, including Alfred Stieglitz’s Photo-Secession Gallery. 291 had served for a time as the focus of knowledge for contemporary European movements. But, there was little opportunity for the public to become familiar with new works of art. Therefore, this association sought to correct this lack of opportunity and thereby stimulate a wider public interest, which in turn would lead to the support necessary for a healthy artistic climate. This resulted in the 1913 Armory Show.

As I had more information on these two exhibitions, I went back to Reference Services at SCAD and used the online chat. This librarian knew more about the assignment as more of my classmates had contacted them. They decided to run a search through the JSTOR database again (and double-check my findings) as they believed this database was the only source for finding older reviews, especially online. They also suggested that not all reviews are necessarily extensive and in-depth, and to think of the kind of reviews seen in the New York Times. After their search, the librarian reaffirmed me that my search was going to yield short reviews (and that they had the same results I did). They stated that most databases cover more current research, and don’t go back as far as the early 1900s, so JSTOR was the best in this regard. When New York Times was mentioned, I decided to broaden my search to newspaper articles outside of SCAD.

FINDINGS

1908 Photo-Secession (291)

American Arts News 6.26 (1908): 1-8 Print.

American Art News 8.21 (1910): 1-10. Print.

“American Pictures.” New-York Daily Tribune 6 Mar 1910: 2. Print.

“News and Notes of the Art World.” The New York Times 10 Mar 1910. Print.

1911 Armory Show

“Cubists and Futurists are Making Insanity Pay.” The New York Times 16 Mar 1913. Print.

Greely-Smith, Nixola. “An Alienist Will Charge You $5,000 to Tell You if You’re Crazy; Go to the Cubist Show and You’ll Be Sure of It for a Quarter.” The Evening World 22 Feb 1913: 8. Print.

“Matters of Art.” New-York Tribune 23 Feb 1913: 6. Print.

WORKS CITED

Trapp, Frank Anderson. “ The Armory Show.” Art Journal 23.1 (1963): 2-9. Print

Cotter, Holland. “Rethinking the Armory Show.” The New York Times, 25 Oct 2012. Web. 16 Feb 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/28/arts/artsspecial/two-exhibitions-re-examine-the-1913-armory-show.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0>

“Modern Art and America: Alfred Stieglitz and his New York Galleries.” National Gallery of Art, 2013. Web. 16 Feb 2013. <http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/modart_2.shtm>

My past experiences with librarians have led me down an unnecessary, time consuming paths.  So that’s why I’d rather just search myself.

Anyway, I emailed late last night and got a response this morning from a reference desk associate.  He advised me to use JSTOR, a database which contains a wide variety of sources that are searchable in the same place.  Ryan gave me tips on how to narrow my search with this database, using keywords and dates.  I also learned that “reviews” generally means book reviews, rather than exhibition reviews; the better word to use for these is “articles.”

My first search resulted in 44 results.  Using the JSTOR database allowed me to quickly skim through pages that had my search words (had to use Adobe PDF to find some of them, though). However, after combing through these….not much success.  But, I was able to find what exhibitions Matisse participated in through “American Art News.” Matisse participated in a 1908 exhibition, and another in 1913.

I don’t feel like I’m getting anywhere though….stay tuned.

In order to control the hazards of biomedical waste in household trash — specifically needles and similar products — a collaborative effort must be implemented utilizing various disciplines of graphic design, the medical industry, the pharmaceutical industry, and the waste industry. The resulting solution will create awareness of this issue and improve the safety of consumers, medical staff, and sanitation workers, while meeting the standards of the industries involved.

In order to control the hazards of biomedical waste in household trash — specifically needles and similar products — a collaborative effort must be implemented utilizing various disciplines of graphic design, the medical industry, the pharmaceutical industry, and the waste industry. Through this redesigned, unified solution, society will become aware of this issue and it will improve the safety of consumers, medical staff, and sanitation workers, while meeting the standards of the industries involved.

Academic

Scott Boylston – sustainability, packaging
Scott Boylston is program coordinator and co-author of the Masters in Design for Sustainability at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), and professor of Design for Sustainability. He is the author of 3 books, including Designing Sustainable Packaging, and has published over a dozen short stories in acclaimed literary journals. Professor Boylston is President and co-founder of Emergent Structures, a non-profit organization dedicated to the innovative re-use of C+D waste material for community benefit. He is also founder of SCAD’s Design Ethos conference and ‘DO-ference,’ an interactive workshop-based conference that brings together international design practitioners with community leaders in order to address pressing social and economic concerns within the local community. Boylston spent a decade as art director in New York City, working with clients including Estée Lauder, Elizabeth Arden, Opium, and Calvin Klien. He speaks internationally on design and sustainability, and holds a masters from Pratt Institute.

What was the turning point that personally convinced you to reconsider design solutions for sustainability practices?

Do you feel that society really does care about sustainability?  Have you been seeing evidence of this?

What design principles do you implement in order to create sustainable solutions?  Does this include collaboration with other industries in producing a successful solution?

What packaging material do you feel is the best suited for these solutions?

Besides packaging design, what other disciplines/fields/materials do you believe are needed to create awareness about sustainability?

Pharmacy

CVS
CVS Pharmacy is the second largest pharmacy chain in the United States (after Walgreens), with more than 7,000 stores in 41 states and Puerto Rico. As the retail pharmacy division of CVS Caremark, it sells prescription drugs and a wide assortment of general merchandise, including over-the-counter drugs, beauty products and cosmetics, film and photo finishing services, seasonal merchandise, greeting cards and convenience foods through their pharmacies, retail stores and online. It also provides healthcare services through its MinuteClinic healthcare clinics as well as their Diabetes Care Centers. Most of these clinics are located within CVS stores.

Do you offer any programs that allow consumers to bring back medical injection devices to your store for proper disposal?  Is this something your company would be interested in?  Why or why not?

What is your current suggestion to consumers who want to properly dispose of their devices?

Waste

Rumpke
Rumpke Consolidated Companies, Inc. has been in operation since 1932 and provides environmentally friendly waste disposal solutions and recycling options. Headquartered in Colerain Township, Ohio, just outside of Cincinnati, Rumpke is one of the nation’s largest privately owned residential and commercial waste and recycling firms, providing service to areas of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and West Virginia. Rumpke divisions include Rumpke Recycling, Rumpke Portable Restrooms, The William-Thomas Group, Rumpke Hydraulics, Rumpke Haul-it-Away and Rumpke Park.

Does your company keep record of how many injuries resulting from medical injection devices?  Can you provide that information?

Where do these injuries occur? (curb-side, separation facility, etc.)

Would having a proper disposal program for these devices reduce the amount of injuries to your employees? Why do you feel that way?

Medical (M.D. Offices)

I found a diabetes center here in Cincinnati (with University of Cincinnati)! http://diabetes.uc.edu/Home.aspx
I see myself using them as a resource.

Do you offer any programs that allow consumers to bring back medical injection devices to your office for proper disposal?  Is this something your office would be interested in?  Why or why not?

Consumer

Are you aware of the current issue of medical device waste and safety?

How do you currently dispose of your medical injection devices?

How much do you spend on proper disposal containers?  How much for your injection devices?

If there was a mail-back program, would you utilize this?

Are you aware if there is a drop off program in your community?  If so, would you use it? Why or why not?