SOAR Campaign
ADES 3545.501 Art Direction - Douglas May - Spring 2021
Activism is an act of love.
As part of the final project of our Art Direction course, we were tasked with creating an institution or event to live in the Dallas area. Our group consisting of Natalie Kreidler, Gina Soto, Mia Dodson, Taylor Ellison, Cameron Hendrix, and myself decided to imagine an annual summit where activists could be empowered, educated, and encouraged to rise up and make real positive change in their communities. We titled this event Start of Activists Rising, or SOAR.
SOAR is here to provide the tools to enable activists on their own paths.
Summit Schedule designed by Taylor Ellison
The Annual Summit
SOAR’s main event would be an annual summit hosted in Dallas that would focus on enrichment and empowerment of activists at every step in their journey. The summit would have conferences and classes focusing on subjects like how to crowd fund, governmental structures, the history of social activism, and much more. The event would serve as a meeting place for mingling between organizations, healing, and empowerment through education. The goal of the summit is to help as many activists as possible to reach their full potential and give them the tools and support to go out and have a positive impact of their community.
Year Round Support
With SOAR, we saw potential for a group that doesn’t just support the community for one week out of the year- but instead could establish itself as a safe space for activist work as well as for queer and displace youth year round. This comes in the form of our permanent community center.
Our headquarters would function as a meeting place that can be utilized by any organization lacking a space of their own. We want to support these groups in any way we can, wether that be supplying them with a space to gather, a printer and office supplies, or just a coffee machine.
Alongside that, the community center will serve as a directory to local organizations that can help in times of need. We would have trained staff to ensure the safety and support of at risk youth that we hope will recognize SOAR as a positive and caring organization that wants to help them get back on their feet again, wether that be through needed crisis intervention or guidance counseling.
Why The Butterfly?
We chose an origami butterfly as the symbol for SOAR because we believe that it is the best reflection of both what we stand for, as well as of our attendees and members. Origami requires skill, patience, and knowledge to achieve, much like well planned activism! And while butterflies are unique in color, shape, size, and pattern, it’s important to remember that a butterfly is still a butterfly. No matter the differences, we are all the same at our core and regardless of presentation or background, we are all deserving of love, respect, justice, and power. Together we are stronger and more beautiful than alone, but just like how the principal of the Butterfly Effect describes, one decision to take action by just one person can cause a chain reaction of positive change in their community. A butterfly symbolizes how change, no matter how small, starts with you.
Butterfly Icons designed by Rebs Beers
Activist Toolkits
Created and designed by Rebs Beers and Natalie Kreidler
Digital Media Kit and Stickers designed by Rebs Beers
You’ve Got This
We want to make sure our members are well equipped for any situation with both the knowledge and tools to succeed. That’s why we created the Activist Toolkits.
Each kit includes:
Mental Health Awareness Information
Digital Media Kit
Community Resource Sheet
Sticker Pack
Intro To Activism Kit
This kit is a first step into the world of activism. With the included Find Your Niche Quiz and Know Your Rights card, people new protesting and organizing can find their place in the community and learn to speak out.
This kit includes:
Find Your Niche Quiz
Know Your Rights Info Card
Legislator Contact Info Packet
“Listen First Then Speak” Sticker
Find Your Niche Quiz designed by Natalie Kreidler
First Aid Kit designed by Taylor Ellison, Mockup created by Rebs Beers
Civil Resistance Kit
This kit is for those who plan to take action in person and need to be prepared for tough situations and tight spots.
This kit includes:
Civil Resistance Flip Book
First Aid Kit
Legal Advice
Local Lawyer Phone Numbers
Bystander Intervention Training Card
Civil Resistance Flip Book designed by Natalie Kreidler
Planner designed by Natalie Kreidler, Backpack and Mockup by Rebs Beers
Organizing Activism Kit
Our final kit is for those looking to start their own organizations. Getting everything in order for an entire group is hard, but SOAR is committed to making it as easy as possible to get your new team off the ground with a planner and guides built just for new leaders.
This kit includes:
Group Planner
Event Checklist
Goal List
Guides To Working Through Political Structures Both Locally and Federally
Organization Recruitment Guides
Marketing Guides
Merch
Shirts designed by Taylor Ellison, Mockup by Rebs Beers
Shirts and Tote designed by Taylor Ellison
Installations
We plan to create a series of installation pieces under out organization that would be split in two, as both a permanent and temporary interactive exhibit. These installations will be titled Project Chrysalis and Project Metamorphosis. The titles of Project Chrysalis and Metamorphosis refer to what each installation is intended to showcase. Project Chrysalis is intended to show what we want to become and signify a start of the process of change and growth, while project Metamorphosis showcases and honors the change that we now get to see come to fruition from the efforts of the community we are trying to shape.
Project Chrysalis created and designed by Rebs Beers
Project Chrysalis
Project Chrysalis will be a temporary installation that will be open for attendees of the summit at the event’s location to interact with by answering questions like “What motivates you to participate in activism?” and “What changes do you want to see in your community?”. Guests will write their answers on paper butterflies that will be displayed on a large wall. The installation will act as a form of advertising for the convention, as it will be encouraged to take pictures in front of the installation to post and promote the event. It will also be a reminder to attendees that they are part of a bigger picture, as the collection of butterflies and reasons for people’s dedication will grow as the event continues.
Sketch by Rebs Beers
Project Metamorphosis
Project Metamorphosis on the other hand will be a permanent installation in the community center. This wall wall be made up of the same butterflies, though these ones will instead be decorated by written accounts of achievements and accomplishments made by organizations the have either worked with or branched off from SOAR.
Mockup by Rebs Beers
Posters designed by Cameron Hendrix
Street Ads
These street ads were intended to catch the eye of people walking or driving past and show what area we aimed to take action in.
Billboard by Gina Soto
Billboard
The billboard was intended to further our narrative that activism is an act of love to the community, as well as add a human aspect by using hands in our message.
Interactive Street Ad by Natalie Kreidler
Interactive Street Ad
The interactive ad is a felt board that has pieces that can be rearranged by the public, showing that the community can be built up by anyone.
Mirror Street Ad by Natalie Kreidler, Mockup edited by Rebs Beers
Mirror Street Ad
The mirror ad is intended to show each passerby their potential as a “solution” to the fight for equality. People can either chose to engage with the ad, or ignore their possible impact on the community.