More than 1.6 billion people lack access to electricity and modern forms of energy.

In developing countries, approximately 130 million children and teens — age 17 or under — have lost one or both parents.

More than 9 million children under age 5 die each year. Two-thirds of these deaths — more than 6 million every year — are preventable.

-[Via http://www.compassion.com/poverty/poverty.htm]

I don’t know about you, but reading those facts was pretty eye-opening for me.  Sometimes we have to take a step back to realize how truly rich and blessed we are.   These statistics are from Compassion International’s website.  Compassion is a Christian child advocate ministry, and our church, Hope Chapel West O’ahu (which is super-rad, by the way) partners with them to sponsor children.  Over the past few months I’ve volunteered my exhibit design experience to design a hallway featuring the children Hope Chapel sponsors as well as information about Compassion’s vision.  So…. I thought we’d take a look into the design process.

I started the process with a quick concept sketch and a materials board showing my vision in regards to colors and finishes.  In my mind, I liked the crisp combination of orange, blue-green, a light birch wood and metal accents.

 

Displaying the children is no easy task, since there are over 600(!) sponsored children from our church.  The sepia collage on the left of this board is how I envision the children to be displayed.

The design and colors were more finely tuned and put into this preliminary color elevation view.

 

As I said, the display boards (sized at 20″x20″ and printed at Miller’s lab, the best print lab in the universe) needed to show off the vast number of children, but also retain a cohesive manner in the exhibit.  Keeping all the images in color would’ve detracted from the overall feel, so I decided on a sepia tone.

To break up the monotony we featured 4 children on single 20×20 display boards.  Notice the subtle layering effect of the map, horizontal brushed pattern, and translucent text.  When designing graphically, the number one word I have in my head is “Layer!”  Try to avoid excessive drop shadows, too many font choices and conflicting graphic elements or your piece can start looking more like a garage sale sign than a work of art.  If there is a second, quieter word in your head after “layer” it should be (Subtle!).  Anyway, you can see cute little Gerson rocking his San Antonio Spurs shirt below…

 

This is a rear view of the display boards.  3/4″ wood pieces provide a stand-off element from the wall.  Industrial velcro attaches to the wall to allow easy removal/addition/moving of display boards.

 

Below is an in-process photo showing the colored squares being masked and painted.  There is a *10′x10′ map of the world that will be hung in that shadow box area to the right.

*The map is built so that Hawaii is the center.  I don’t think anyone will argue with that…

 

 

This is the completion of Phase 1.  We are continuing to add new displays along with additional lighting and a drop-ceiling… stay tuned for photos upon completion!

Oh my gosh, was I running when I took this photo?  Nice focusing, Nick.