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Graphic Products
Social, Cultural, Moral and
Environmental Issues
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STARTER
• Look at the feedback from your exam question
you have been given back and write down 3
improvements you could make to it
• Write down 3 topics you would like to revise
again
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Learning objectivesL
earn
ing
ob
jecti
ves
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the cultural and moral issues which must be
considered when designing graphic products
the environmental impact of making graphic products
the environmental impact of packaging
recycling, reusing and reducing
the symbols that appear on packaging
the implications of ICT.
To learn about:
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All- D- Will be able to complete aspects of the social,
moral and cultural work sheet using the power point
Most- C –will be able to give detailed answers
Some-A/B –will complete the revision exercise fully
and understand all the points fully
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When a product is designed, the designers have to consider
a wide range of social, cultural, moral and environmental
implications. These can cause conflicts that can be very
difficult to solve.
You should also consider the
environmental impact of your product.
What raw materials will it require? How
will it be manufactured? How will it be
disposed of once it has been used?
It is important that graphical imagery and products
should not offend in any way. You must be aware
of the beliefs and needs of minority groups, and
take care how you portray people in your work.
Moral, cultural and environmental issues
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Cultural Implications
People from different cultures can behave and think very
differently. What you may take as perfectly ordinary could
be considered offensive and insulting by another culture.
How people are portrayed – avoid stereotypes and be
careful how you represent minority groups in your work.
The content – think carefully about the images
you use. For example, attitudes to skimpy
clothing vary greatly across the world.
Colour and symbolism – some common colours
are considered holy in some cultures.
Be wary of using symbols, especially religious ones.
Think carefully about:
Cultural implications
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Cultural implications
Here are some examples. Think carefully about how each of
these graphic products could cause cultural offence.
Why is this
Christmas
decoration
inappropriate?
Why is this image
inappropriate for
a neighbourhood
watch poster?
Why is this an
inappropriate
recruitment
poster?
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Moral implications
Moral implications
Most individuals, including designers, have morals – ideas
about right and wrong.
Designers can be put in moral dilemmas if they are asked
to design a product that goes against their beliefs.
For example:
A Catholic designer
could be asked to
work on a leaflet
about birth control.
A designer for a fashion
magazine could be asked
to work on an article in
favour of real fur coats.
Designers must decide what they are prepared to work on.
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Environmental issues are increasingly affecting the
design of products. People are becoming more aware
of the environmental impact of our consumer society.
Some of these issues are:
Industries producing graphic products use a
range of papers, boards and petrochemicals.
If these resources are not replaced, there will
not be enough for future generations.
The depletion of non-renewable
resources
Deforestation
Air pollution
Waste and refuse disposal.
Environmental issues
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Waste and pollutionGraphic products take up
space in landfill sites.
Chemicals in inks pollute
the ground.
Making graphic products
DeforestationTrees are cut down
to make paper.
PollutionBleaching the paper
produces chemical waste.
Fossil fuelsMaking paper uses
energy obtained
from fossil fuels.
Fossil fuelsPrinting uses energy
obtained from fossil fuels.
Ink is made using oil-
based chemicals.
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Packaging accounts for a large proportion of
the graphic products that are manufactured.
We package products for a number of
different reasons:
Do we need
all this
packaging?
On the next slide, let’s follow a
cookie from its creation
through its packaging process.
To Protect
To Preserve
To Advertise
To Transport
Product packaging consequences
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Product packaging consequences
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You can put packaging into categories:
The packaging around the
secondary packaging. Usually
used for transportation purposes.
Tertiary Packaging
The packaging outside the primary
packaging. Used mainly for advertising
or promotion of the product.
Secondary Packaging
The packaging in direct contact
with the product. Usually used for
preservation and protection.
Primary Packaging
Product packaging consequences
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A variety of materials can be used for packaging.
Paper
Card
Boards
Plastics
PVC
High Density
Polythene
Low Density
Polythene
Polystyrene
PACKAGING
MATERIALS
Poly-
propylene
Product packaging materials
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Packaging materials
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When deciding on materials, designers also need to consider
the environmental impact. One way of reducing the amount of
waste produced and natural resources used up is to recycle.
If possible, you should make products from recyclable
materials such as paper, card, aluminium and fabrics.
Recycling
Some plastics can be recycled, but this is harder.
Some biodegradable plastics (plastics that
decompose) are now available.
Designers should also consider whether their product can
be made from materials that have already been recycled.
Recycling
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Recycling
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Materials can also be conserved by re-using products.
Use less packaging.
Use as little energy as possible to create the product.
Make products easier to fix, so that if there is a fault,
the whole product will not need to be thrown away.
Use alternative materials, like biodegradable plastic.
Some products can be re-used, for example,
glass milk bottles.
We can also look at reducing the elements of a product.
Re-using and reducing
Some products have components or parts that can
be re-used once the product is finished with, for
example, fastenings.
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Labels are used to provide information about a product.
Information such as:
Label language
They are also used as sales and marketing tools to
encourage us to buy products.
The contents
The weight
Any instructions
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Labels can be divided into a number of different categories:
Label language
Abstract symbols labels
These labels involve images that do
not specifically link to the product.
They are there for aesthetic purposes.
Company logos are often abstract.
Pictorial labels
These are labels with images that relate to the
product itself. The image depicts the actual
product, or something closely linked to it.
Action labels
These are labels that tell us specific details about
the product, or give instructions about how it
should be used, for example, a best before date.
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Label language
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Labels often need to be multicultural – imagery and symbols
are used instead of words to help overcome language barriers.
Colour is also crucial in labelling. Colours evoke different
emotions and, if carefully used, can create strong messages.
Label language
For example, the washing labels that
appear in clothing are common across
the globe. They can be understood
without having to read any words.
For example, chocolate
manufacturers often use the
colour purple because it is a rich,
warm colour associated with
luxury.
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Symbols used for recycling
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Plastic recycling symbols
Each different type of plastic must be recycled separately.
It is not always easy to tell the different types apart.
Manufacturers add a symbol to the plastic they
produce, so that it can be easily sorted for recycling.
POLYETHYLENE
TEREPHTHALATE
HIGH DENSITY
POLYETHYLENE
PVC
LOW DENSITY
POLYETHYLENE
POLYPROPYLENE
POLYSTYRENE
ALL OTHER RESINS
AND MIXES
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The greatest effect has been on communication. It is now
easier than ever to share words, images and sounds with
other people.
The increasing use of ICT has had wide-reaching effects
on modern society.
These innovations have had both positive and
negative effects.
The Internet
VideoconferencingE-mail
Mobile phones
CAD and CAM
The implications of ICT
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The implications of ICT
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Key pointsK
ey
po
ints
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When making graphic products, it is important to
consider how people from different cultures and social
groups will view the product.
Graphic products produce waste and pollution.
The environmental impact of graphic products should
be minimized through greener manufacturing
processes and increased recycling.
Labels are used for many different purposes, including
safety warnings, product information, marketing and
overcoming language barriers.
The increasing use of ICT has had both positive and
negative effects on society.