2-1-1: The Impactful Bay Area Change

JANUARY 2024 - FEBRUARY 2024
Illustration, Graphic Design

Artist Statement

My artwork “The Impactful Bay Area Change of Contacting 2-1-1,” portrays an illustrative collage and connectivity of community assembly, health and human services, and symbols of initiative action towards an equitable Bay Area. My work reflects my peers' diverse experiences and my narrative of shared current needs, such as employment with livable wages, affordable housing, basic survival needs, and more. Surprisingly, not many people in my life know about contacting 2-1-1 specialists for regional help and information. Therefore, I wanted to help visually educate them and all Bay Area residents of United Way’s 2-1-1 services within this illustration.

The visual language of my artwork is central to the vital work of 2-1-1 and United Way Bay Area (UWBA). I was inspired by United Way’s 2-1-1 speech balloon logo design and expanded its typography to depict its dynamic impact. Iconography surrounds the main speech bubble to display its provided health and human services (i.e., food, healthcare, disaster relief, legal justice, bills, shelter, employment job search, mental wellness, education, transportation, and utilities). Additionally, I illustrated the different ways to access 2-1-1 services through telephone calls, mobile text messaging, and online resources at 211bayarea.org

In significance to the Bay Area, I represented all counties supported by UWBA services and partnerships, the symbolic landmark of the Golden Gate Bridge, and essential transportation around through BART. Also, there is California symbolism with the native poppy flower and the tourism interest of people worldwide. In unity, California’s UWBA welcomes residents from all diverse backgrounds and identities. With growth mindsets, as exhibited in the oak tree, I believe in the power of Bay Area resident voices to create impactful change and justice through current financial and living situations. Connecting with health and human services like 2-1-1 helps build pathways to a prosperous and better Bay Area.

Technical Skills

• Sketched typography, iconography, objects, and character designs
• Composed collage of illustration assets around 2-1-1 speech balloon logo
• Outlined and colored in illustrations, all made with Procreate