Keychain Card Ideation

This is the keychain card in its current state. I am still waiting for feedback from my panel of experts, but any comments would be appreciated.

The graphic, color scheme and typefaces are consistent with the brochure to create a unified set of educational materials.

Tri-Fold Ideation

Here are images of the tri-fold brochure in its current state. I have so far gotten feedback from experts Cindy Mar-Williams and Jennifer Pearce about the content of the brochure. I am still waiting to get feedback from expert Collete Lee about its effectiveness as a health literacy tool. Expert Heather Guilford will provide feedback form a design and marketing standpoint.

I expect to take some photos of my own at my local farmer's market this Saturday, so hopefully I will get a more appropriate image to replace the one of bread.

Solution Framework

Based on my research, I have decided to create a tri-fold brochure for Eden to use in their doctor's offices and at outreach events as the primary means of communication. In addition, I am going to create a keychain card and reusable tote bag to be handed out at outreach events. Although they may not have the budget to produce these items, one of my panel expressed an interest in having a prototype to show to their marketing department.

I've become increasingly passionate about this subject, and want to continue working on it even after 505. I feel that eating local organic foods is the solution for problems caused by a diet of processed foods - it is more sustainable for the environment, and more nutritious (and flavorful) for human beings. My research has shown that most people would prefer a Web site to printed materials. I hope that in the future I can create a Web site (or perhaps a blog) on this topic and somehow offer keychain cards and reusable totes through the site as well.

I'm so excited about the possibilities, but I need to reign myself in to finish my 505 materials in the few short weeks I have left.

Report Card

I've been inspired by the idea of a report card for buying food. Natural foods would have an A, while entirely processed foods would have an F. I feel that a simple guide like this would help people make healthy choices quickly instead of spending a great deal of time puzzling over a product's nutrition information and list of ingredients. I've noticed in my observations that people often don't look at all, or if they do they tend to look confused. I remember feeling this way myself before all my research, and I'd love to help end that confusion.

Scope for Moving Forward

In my research I have learned so many disgusting and deceptive facts about the food industry that I wish I could tackle the whole thing. I feel that all unnatural additives, from Yellow #5 to gluten to MSG, are incredibly unhealthy and the public needs to know. However, a topic this broad would probably require more than one semester's worth of work, unless I can figure out a simpler focus.

That said, I need to figure out what sort of materials to produce to convey the information that I've learned. Over 70% of my survey respondents said that they would prefer perusing a Web site rather than printed materials. There are a few problems with creating a Web site though:

1. How would I let Eden Medical Center's patients know about it? I would also have to create a printed handout for Eden volunteers to hand out at outreach events to lead people to the Web site. Would I have enough time to design all of this?
2. A Web site would require a lot more information than a booklet or poster. Would I have enough time to write all that copy? Would I be able to keep the Web site updated?
3. And finally, I have far less experience in Web design than I do in print. I would be more likely to run into technical problems with this route.

Right now I feel like I'm closing in on a solution, but it's not quite clear yet.

Bibliography (so far)

1. Minich, Deanna, Ph.D. (2009). An a-z guide to food additives, never eat what you can’t pronounce. San Francisco, CA: Conari press.
2.Pringle, Peter. (2003). Food,iInc. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster.
3.Nestle, Marion. (2002). Food politics. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.
4.Wangen, Dr. Stephen. (2009). Healthier without wheat: a new understanding of wheat allergies, celiac disease, and non-celiac gluten intolerance. Seattle, WA: Innate Health Publishing.
5.Popkin, Barry. (2009). The world is fat: the fads, trends, policies, and products that are fattening the human race. New York, NY: The Penguin Group.
6.Simon, Michelle. (2006). Appetite for profit: how the food industry undermines our health and how to fight back. New York, NY: Nation Books.
7.Roberts, Paul. (2008). The end of food. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin.
8.Trudeau, Kevin. (2004). Natural cures “they” don’t want you to know about. Elk Grove Village, IL: Alliance Publishing Group, Inc.
9.Ettlinger, Steve. (2007). Twinkie, deconstructed. New York, NY: The Penguin Group.
10.Schlosser, Eric. (2002). Fast food nation. New York, NY: HarperCollins.
11.Schwarcz, Joe, Ph.D. (2009). An apple a day: the myths, misconceptions, and truths about the foods we eat. New York, NY: Other Press.
12.Perucca, F, & Pouradier, G. (1996). The rubbish on our plates. London, England: Prion Books.
13.Community Assessment, Planning, Education, and Evaluation (CAPE) Unit. (2010). The Health of Alameda County Cities and Places: A Report for the Hospital Council of Northern and Central California, 2010. Retrieved from http://www.acphd.org/user/data/DataRep_ListbyCat.asp?DataRepdivId=2&DataRepdivcatid=70
14.http://www.sweetsurprise.com/
15.Niles, Meredith Ph.D. (2008, June 27). Corn tries to look a little too sweet. Message posted to www.grist.org
16.Bocarsly, Miriam E. , Powell, Elyse S., Avena, Nicole M., Hoebel, Bartley G. (2010). High-fructose corn syrup causes characteristics of obesity in rats: Increased body weight, body fat and triglyceride levels. Retrieved from Princeton University, Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior Web site: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/525485/description#description
17.US Department of Agriculture, US Department of Health and Human Services. (2010). Dietary guideline for Americans 2010. 7th Edition, Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office . Retrieved from www.dietaryguidelines.gov
18.Woolf, A. (Producer/Director/Writer. (2007). King Corn [Documentary]. United States: Mosaic Films.
19.Stanhope, Kimber L. (2010). Fructose consumption: recent results and their potential implications. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1190, 15-24. http://0-onlinelibrary.wiley.com.opac.sfsu.edu/doi/10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.05266.x/pdf
20.Suzanne Vranica. (2008, June 23). High Fructose Corn Syrup Mixes It Up; Sweetener Advocate, Soured by Obesity Links, Targets Moms in Ads. Wall Street Journal (Eastern Edition), p. B.7. Retrieved March 16, 2011, from ABI/INFORM Global. (Document ID: 1498923741).
21.Schoonover, Heather and Muller, Mark. (2006). Food without thought: how US farm policy contributes to obesity. Retrieved from IATP Environment and Agriculture Program Web site: http://www.iatp.org/search.cfm?q=food+without+thought