Attached is the results of my freewriting exercise. One this is for sure, my handwriting is NOT the best! For the most part, I just thought about how the modern church has changed, creating a more diverse group of people who now faithfully attend church and identify themselves as Christians. This let me to dig into who are those people. Are they people who were turned off by fake Christians? Are they people who thought they just could never fit in or belong? But what I really wondered about are people who never identified with any faith, and therefore where never interested in going to church to begin with. What message do they need to see or hear to make them consider otherwise? Where would those messages be and in what form would that message occur? How often would they need to see that message. What ultimate form of visual communication would most effectively create a seeker out of a non-seeker?
While I think there is more freewriting to be had, it was nice to at least put a little “pen to paper,” or stylus pen to iPad in my case.
January 15, 2013 – Freewriting
Shala
January 15, 2013 at 10:17 pm
After I wrote this post, I had the following thought, which I wrote down:
“Perhaps the better question is what is the role of the Christian graphic designer in the mission of the Church? How do we, as professional communicators, influence the work of the Church? As churches more effective if they either invest in design and marketing, whether that is through the use of freelance talent or having a staff member formally assigned to this role?”
Or are 2000 year old methods, put in place by the 1st century Church, still the best way to reach people and grow the Church, which is simply by Christians sharing their lives and the good news one person at a time?
Marina Petrova
January 19, 2013 at 5:59 pm
Hi Shala,
I thought of several questions that you might (or might not) find helpful:
- What do people find in church and believing in Jesus today? Are there any other ways that people meet the exact same needs? If you think about these other ways, how would you compare them to what the church means to you? What are they lacking that the church has? You can interview people going to church and people not believing in church and come up with some insights.
- Maybe you could address the question from the point of view of a person who is not sold out on the idea of going to church.
- My personal observation is that apart from providing faith, the church acts as a community. It is a social place where people feel connected. Why do people need to feel connected to Jesus, some belief or religion, a group of other people? A lot of people use various social media and networks to feel connected. Can you come up with an interesting insight from that?
- What are the symbols – visual or conceptual of Christianity or the modern church? How do they play on the contemporary mind/ faith?
Have you read anything by Joseph Campbell? You can find his talks with Bill Moyers on Vimeo. Joseph Campbell talks about an overarching belief and myth system that all humans share, that is relevant to how we perceive our life and what the meaning of our life is. You might find that interesting too.
Good luck!
Ericca Hope
January 19, 2013 at 8:54 pm
Shala,
I wanted to share a book I was skimming at the bookstore the other day, I am sure its for sale online as well. Its called Graphic Design and Religion: A Call for Renewal by Daniel Kantor. In the book he breaks down the iconography used throughout that ages to current day that express how the artwork transcends time and influences our perceptions on various religions.
Also of interest might be Branding Faith: Why Some Churches and Nonprofits Impact Culture and Others Don’t by Phil Cooke. I think that you could also explore the concept of religious branding. Why do some marketing and media strategies work. How do we reach a media oversaturated population with a social message, a positive outlook and a lasting impression? Just some thoughts. I hope this helps!
The SCAD library also has an interview with Daniel Kantor here: http://0-search.ebscohost.com.library.scad.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aft&AN=72449082&site=ehost-live
Works Cited
“Religion And Design Are Soulmates.” Novum: World Of Graphic Design (2012): 37. Art Full Text (H.W. Wilson). Web. 19 Jan. 2013.
Shala
January 20, 2013 at 5:26 pm
Thanks Marina. I appreciate the probing questions into the mindset of people, thus impacting the messages they need (or avoid). I do like the idea of the symbols. Have people become tired of seeing the “cross,” so much that they are immediately turned off or don’t truly understand the significance. In undergrad, I created an installation called “Faith or Fashion,” addressing the rise of the cross as an ornament people wore, particularly in the midst of being half-naked (think popular music videos). So I bought a lot of Barbies, made some skanky clothes for them, and adorned them with huge cross necklaces. It created some controversial responses in my comment book!
No, I haven’t read anything by Joseph Campbell, but will check him out.
Shala
January 20, 2013 at 5:30 pm
Thanks, Ericca. I’ll check those out! I do have Branding Faith on my list of books to read. My pastor used to be in design/marketing, so he gave me a number of books today.
Michele Buchanan
January 20, 2013 at 7:43 pm
Hi Shala,
I don’t have much to contribute on the specifics of religion, but it is interesting to speculate about a re-brand. What would that look like, who would it target? What do we believe now that can be used as a fulcrum.
Michele
Kaleena Tucker
January 20, 2013 at 8:30 pm
Hi Shala,
Really interesting topic! I actually go to a very contemporary Christian church who makes good use of a professional designer. At the beginning of every service, there is always a short video shown on the projection screens (looks like it was created in AfterEffects) that introduces the topic for the sermon. It’s kind of like a movie preview. It gets undivided attention while its on. For about 30-60 seconds, we all feel like we’re at the movies. Throughout the service, other graphics might pop up, but it is mainly used for presenting bible verses. This is the only church I’ve ever attended, who actually has a “real” graphic designer on staff. The difference is pretty interesting. I think that people respond to the contemporary, modern designs because it reflects designs that they see outside of church. It’s refreshing to see a cool AfterEffects video with dynamic typography. I think it keeps church “fun” and relatable.
I look forward to seeing how your ideas develop!
-Kaleena
Shala
January 20, 2013 at 8:53 pm
That’s how my church is. There is always a media element that introduces the sermon, and they tend to be very creative and powerful.