Assignment: In this project, your group will investigate a real-world problem in the Bay Area, then design a campaign to mobilize stakeholders around a creative intervention. This is not about proposing a perfect solution; it’s about grappling with root causes, systems of power, and possibilities for change. You will be assessed on the clarity, depth, and reasoning of your analysis, not whether the solution is “correct.”
Issue: Bringing back “mall culture”. Concerned about declining revenue for small businesses, stay focused on that agnostic of mall culture as the cause.
Written Report:
○ Clearly Stated Problem
○ Scope the issue narrowly enough to be researchable and actionable.
○ Focus on the Bay Area.
○ Stakeholder Mapping
○ Identify the key individuals, groups, or institutions involved.
○ Analyze their interests, rules, and values (e.g., economic motivations, legal responsibilities, cultural norms).
○ Support your mapping with relevant research (articles, policy reports, etc.). ○ Root Cause Analysis
○ Describe the systemic, cultural, economic, or political causes that perpetuate the problem.
○ Go beyond symptoms to explain why this problem persists. ○ Ground your explanation in evidence and course concepts. ○ Campaign Description
○ Propose a detailed, creative intervention or action strategy aimed at engaging stakeholders.
○ Clearly justify how your intervention addresses the root causes.
○ Show how the campaign is designed with stakeholders’ interests, rules, and values in mind.
○ Your campaign should include a collaborative or public-facing element with a local artist or art-based strategy that supports your goals.
○ You are not expected to develop new artwork with an artist. Learn about local artists and identify one who might be relevant. Consider reaching out for a brief informational interview to learn about them.
○ Explain what kind of art you would commission and justify how it aligns with your campaign goals and stakeholder landscape.
Slideshow:
○ Prepare a presentation to share your campaign with the class.
○ Include key highlights from each section above, with visuals encouraged (e.g., diagrams, images, analytics).
○ Your slides should be well organized and easy to follow.
○ Avoid full sentences in slides. Use bullet points, keywords, or visuals to guide your talking points.
○ Focus on engaging your peers. Make your presentation clear, provocative, and concise.
