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A series of posters on air pollution and everything becomes very clear

31.7.2019

Translation: machine translated

The posters by graphic designer Gioia Loretz provide information about the substances that pollute our air. They are part of an educational project designed to better educate future generations and promote the sensible use of our air.

The fireworks display on 1 August is an annual event that I particularly enjoy. However, my growing concern for the quality of the air around me is leading me to want to write off this and all other fireworks displays. Umwelthilfe - a non-profit environmental and consumer protection association - shares the same opinion. On 29 July, it officially asked 31 German towns and cities to ban firecrackers, as they are likely to increase the level of fine particles in the air according to the Umweltbundesamt, the Federal Environmental Office. Here too, the OFEV - the Federal Office for the Environment - estimates that fireworks generate somegenerate around 320 tonnes of fine particles, or "1 to 2% of the total emitted each year in Switzerland".

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As this subject seems abstract to many people - and I'm no exception to this rule either - the FOEN is therefore working to raise awareness at an early stage through the Explor'air project, developed in partnership with organisations such as the Swiss Cancer League and the Swiss Lung League. At school, more should be done to explain to young people the harmful effects of air pollution in order to minimise future environmental damage.

To this end, the FOEN has created Lernetz - an educational media agency - which offers teaching material on air quality in secondary schools. They worked with young illustrator Gioia Loretz on the Explor'air project. As part of her degree dissertation "Unter der Lupe" - understand "Under the magnifying glass" -, devoted to air quality, she created seven posters that will corroborate lessons in the future. Her illustrations provide information on seven pollutants - including sulphur and carbon dioxide - that are responsible for the deterioration in air quality. Each illustration contains facts about a specific pollutant, revealed by the passage of a red-coloured lens.

"Unter der Lupe"

How did the idea of tackling the theme of air pollution through a series of posters come to you?
<Gioia Loretz: What was important to me was to choose a topical subject for my degree dissertation. As I had no knowledge in this field, it was an opportunity for me to learn something new. What's more, there are virtually no illustrations on the subject. So I was free to develop a new creative language.

The red lens to reveal the harmful substance. Photo: Gioia Loretz — A poster from the series « Unter der Lupe». Photo: Gioia Loretz

How did the collaboration with Explor'air come about?
Lernnetz - the media agency dedicated to learning - presented the idea of Explor'air to the Zurich University of the Arts to put their finger on who to work with on this project. What naturally led me to them as a result of my research was their openness to all techniques and achievements.

What is the advantage of a series of posters and visual communication over traditional teaching materials designed to raise awareness of air quality among pupils?
Access to complex subjects like air pollution is meant to be fun, in this case by using a magnifying glass to reveal hidden information. The advantage of a series of posters is that they hang in the classroom for a long time and the illustrations are eye-catching. My aim is to create illustrations that serve as mnemonic devices for remembering the various pollutants.

The graphic designer behind these posters. Photo: Gioia Loretz

How does a teacher go about getting hold of these posters? Or how does a class take part in this Explor'air project?
Requests to order these posters can be sent directly to me. My e-mail address is loretz.gioia@gmail.com. I recently presented them to the FOEN in collaboration with Lernetz, with whom I hope to work soon. Otherwise, Explor'air's educational content and magazines are freely available and can be downloaded at any time from their website.

What's your next project?
I'll be starting work in August at the communications agency Designers' Club in Zurich. I'm continuing my momentum with this 'Unter der Lupe' project.

An illustration of ammonia, a harmful substance. Photo: Gioia Loretz

For more Swiss design projects, follow me by clicking the relevant button in my author profile!

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Pia Seidel

Senior Editor

Pia.Seidel@digitecgalaxus.ch

Like a cheerleader, I love celebrating good design and bringing you closer to everything furniture- and interior design- related. I regularly curate simple yet sophisticated interior ideas, report on trends and interview creative minds about their work.

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