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National Parks Posters
Nature is emphasized as younger generations are interested in topics concerning the environment.
I looked to redesign the iconic national parks posters of the 30’s–40’s to a more current style, focusing on the “instagrammable moment” of monuments with playful type.
2021
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Nuestra Cosecha
Objective_Design a system based on a Community Garden in Chicago to bring awareness of resources in food deserts
group project
group project
2020–2021
Problem
People lack resources due to food deserts in Chicago
Neighborhoods highly segregated + grocery stores are further apart in certain ones
There are unconventional food resources available, but there’s a lack of awareness around them
How do we bring awareness to various resources in neighborhoods with food deserts - specifically Pilsen
El Paseo Community Garden - Pilsen, Chicago
Interview with Co-Director - Paula Acevedo
Three main pillars of El Paseo are stewardship, community + conservation. More emphasis on holisitic ways to bring people together. Not soley focused on food acess; events geared to community building.
“We want to foster a connection with the immediate surrounding community”
Three main pillars of El Paseo are stewardship, community + conservation. More emphasis on holisitic ways to bring people together. Not soley focused on food acess; events geared to community building.
“We want to foster a connection with the immediate surrounding community”
Insights
My solution has to be about food without it being the main focus. I noticed their garden boxes for rent. This made me think about self sufficiency + urban farming. It’s an unconventional way to get food with many benefits. Also aligns with El Paseo’s main pillars, keeping solution true to organization.
My solution has to be about food without it being the main focus. I noticed their garden boxes for rent. This made me think about self sufficiency + urban farming. It’s an unconventional way to get food with many benefits. Also aligns with El Paseo’s main pillars, keeping solution true to organization.
How to Get the Community’s Attention?
1. Design a paper making workshop ad
2. Where community members learn to make seed paper (One sheet for El Paseo, one for self)
3. That leads to an event promoting garden boxes
Restraints: use materials community garden has
So normal printer, limited resources, low cost
Inspiration
I wanted the project to have a holistic collaborative feeling, as this is one of the main pillars of El Paseo
By creating a workshop focused on bringing community together, members help create material later used by the garden to promote another resource they have
I wanted the project to have a holistic collaborative feeling, as this is one of the main pillars of El Paseo
By creating a workshop focused on bringing community together, members help create material later used by the garden to promote another resource they have
Materials Needed
Paper Making
Blender
Heavy Books
Roller
Towels
Tub of water
Smoth Plastic (folder)
Sifter for Paper
Mesh
Picture Frames (2)
Staple Gun and/or Nails + hammer
Paper Making
Blender
Heavy Books
Roller
Towels
Tub of water
Smoth Plastic (folder)
Sifter for Paper
Mesh
Picture Frames (2)
Staple Gun and/or Nails + hammer
Making Pulp
Making Paper
“Nuestra Cosecha” is Spanish for “our harvest”. I wanted the name to represent the collaborative nature of the project.
I designed the postcard to have all necessary information on one side, so the rest could be planted
Directions in Spanish + English as El Paseo is near a retirement home with majority older latinx members
Illustrations of the vegetables help categorize the postcards too (Illustrations made by one of my teammates!)
Finished product
Ready to send postcards after drying + printing
Recipients plant their postcard
As seeds sprout, reminded of El Paseo
Physical reminder brings them back to rent a box
Ready to send postcards after drying + printing
Recipients plant their postcard
As seeds sprout, reminded of El Paseo
Physical reminder brings them back to rent a box
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MCA POSTERS
Objective_Create a set of posters based on an event in Chicago; all posters must follow same mode of production
I took photos of exhibitions at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, then created collages for each show. Next, I applied the same type placement across all posters to create a sense of unity in the series. Each utilizes a single color to mimic riso prints with the artist’s name physically attached - referencing the layering process used to create them.
2018
Inspiration
The series was inspired by the brightness of risographs and the process of collage. I’ve always liked working in layers and wanted to add the visual texture of physically constructed scanned collages as opposed to creating them digitally
detail shots
Process
Process:
1. photograph parts of each exhibit that represented the show
2. edit photos in greyscale
3. print photos
4. construct physical collages
5. scan collages
6. create text layout to apply to all posters
7. condensed + monospaced typefaces to create a separated tone from exhibits
8. print posters on large format printer
9. attach physical piece of paper to reference layering process + emphasize artist
1. photograph parts of each exhibit that represented the show
2. edit photos in greyscale
3. print photos
4. construct physical collages
5. scan collages
6. create text layout to apply to all posters
7. condensed + monospaced typefaces to create a separated tone from exhibits
8. print posters on large format printer
9. attach physical piece of paper to reference layering process + emphasize artist
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Notes Print Design
Objective_ Organize assigned readings, images from reading, notes and citation into a booklet
2017
For this assignment I wanted to split my project into four books
By separating them through paper + size the order is clear. The visual layering is not only aesthetic but serves a functional purpose. All books assigned in size by the amount of text.
orange: images in readings
graph paper: image citations
newsprint: my notes on readings
white paper: assigned readings
designed in Id
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Restrictions
Objective_With set passages and various restrictions, design a set of cohesive posters.
2017
2017
For this poster I was inspired by fiber artists. The amount of work that goes into a piece of embroidery is never really understood until you do it yourself, tediously trying to line everything up.
Restriction02: Incorporate a scanner Through scanning I thought of how to emphasize parts of the passage. By cutting pieces the layout is considered in a physical sense that can get lost in the world of digital design.
Restriction04: Incorporate photography The passages given were all different versions of the same story, which all had a haziness to them. You glean different details from some, + others less. Working on the series I pictured what the main character looked like. In my head he looked just as foggy as the passages felt.
Restriction03: Use a machine no longer used (typewriter)
Using a mode of production I’m not used to meant I made mistakes. Watching the pile next to my typewriter grow gave me the idea to cut and paste the test prints together, showing the iterative process.
Using a mode of production I’m not used to meant I made mistakes. Watching the pile next to my typewriter grow gave me the idea to cut and paste the test prints together, showing the iterative process.
detaildesigned in Ai, other
©2025 - Michelle Turcios