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Thoughts
Marc Monguilod (ES)
Graphic designer, Barcelona. Currently working at Soon In Tokyo.
http://markmarc.com–marcmonguilod.tumblr.com
As graphic designers/communicators we can promote moods and thoughts in general public? We
have the power of persuasion? Do we really have enough resources? Or are we part of a wide
circle and part of the chain?
»99942 Apophis is a near-Earth asteroid that caused a brief period of concern in December
2004 because initial observations indicated a probability of up to 2.7% that it would strike Earth
in 2029. Additional observations provided improved predictions that eliminated the possibility of
an impact on Earth or the Moon in 2029. However, a possibility remained that during the 2029
close encounter with Earth, Apophis would pass through a gravitational keyhole, a small region no
more than about 800 m (half a mile) wide, that would set up a future impact on April 13, 2036.
This possibility kept the asteroid at Level 1 on the Torino impact hazard scale until August 2006,
when the probability that Apophis would pass through the keyhole was determined to be very
small. Apophis broke the record for the highest level on the Torino Scale, being, for only a short
time, a level 4, before it was lowered.
The diameter of Apophis is approximately 325 metres (1,066 ft). As of December 29, 2012
observation arc, the probability of an April 13, 2036 impact is considered to be 1 in 11,000,000.
Preliminary observations by Goldstone radar in January 2013 have effectively ruled out the possibility of an Earth impact by Apophis in 2036. Of objects not recently observed, there are about
ten asteroids with a more notable Palermo Technical Impact Hazard Scale than Apophis. On average, an asteroid the size of Apophis (325 meters) can be expected to impact Earth about every
80,000 years or so.«
A study among a thousand, fake or true? We really do not know. But as communicators we can
speculate and move information towards where we want the messages to go to.
The idea of the workshop is to create a poster (or set of posters) talking of a hypothetical
end of the world. It’s important that it reaches general public (but not necessary needs to be 100%
clear and understanting, your choice). It’s important in considering and thinking about human
behavior on earth, in a positive or negative choice, your own decision. Throughout history, some
images that comunicated a certain event have become icons of an era or a event, the idea is to
speculate about this important event and get people to think about the years on earth. It can be
a critical or optimistic tone, here is the decision of the designer, and where the power of each one
enters the game. Imagine creating the poster or posters of the end of the world, what would you
say to people?
Research/Reading:
Baraka Movie Trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaW4AskXADQ
A conversation with Daniel van der Velden of Metahaven: observatory.designobserver.com/entry.html?entry=23688
Drones of New York: www.dronesofnewyork.com
99942 Apophis: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/99942_apophis
Meteorite crash in Russia: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANm_4k7OLDk