19 May Design For Literacy
DERT is in partnership with Parsons School of Design participating in an ongoing Collab class called Design for Literacy. Created by DERT partner and Parsons Part-Time Faculty, Marcos Chavez, this class engages with graphic design students to create book products that fulfill DERT’s mission. Students are challenged to re-imagine classic stories from literature, fables and folklore to create new publications with a 21st century perspectives. The books created for the class are intended to be developed into marketable book products that could be sold on DERT’s website with proceeds from sales being donated to The Parent-Child Home Program. PCHP is a 50-year-old non-profit organization that advocates for early childhood learning by providing books to families in need. The 16 week class culminated in a final critique session held at the offices of TODA, where students presented their book products to a various panelists. Critique reviewers included design professionals from TODA, team members from Parent-Child Home Program (including CEO Sarah Walzer), a panel of “real moms” and a team of elementary school kids.
Parsons student Vincent Riportella’s reimagined version of the Aesop’s fable The Ant & The Grasshopper.
Sage Smith presents her books to DERT co-founder Ernesto Chavez.
Our team of Brooklyn Elementary School students are ready to review the Parsons students books 🙂
Parsons student Sage Smith presents to the team from PCHP (left to right: Sarah Howard, Courtney Inman, and Sarah Walzer).
The design critique at TODA displayed over 30 printed books developed by the 15 students from the class.
Parsons student Jessie Yao presents her Pinocchio and Emperors New Clothes books to Brooklny mom’s Amairis Pena-Chavez and Lauren Davenport.
Student’s create 8″x10″ full color storybooks based on classic children’s stories, fables and Native American folklore.
Parsons student Adrianna Hinsey proudly displays her book “Is Ducky Ugly?” — a fully revamped version of the Ugly Ducking.
Parsons designer Vincent Riportella gets a rousing response while reading his Aesop’s Fable – The Ant and The Grasshopper.
Parsons students created unique and unexpected renditions of age old classics bringing a 21st century approach to their design solutions.
Student designers provided read-a-louds of their books to the kids panel getting direct user feedback from their intended target audience.