In exploring Rome's rich inspiration, including its people, history, and architecture, I delved into the complex narrative of the city while respecting its residents and progress. Focused on the Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary at "Largo di Torre Argentina," my humanistic design approach aimed to both celebrate existing efforts and raise awareness for continued support and donations. Engaging in conversations with both volunteers and tourists shed light on the profound love Rome has for its stray cats. While many cities might overlook such matters, allowing cats to fill dirty alleyways, the people of Rome chose a different path. They united, demonstrating care for their community and, remarkably, repurposed an ancient, historically significant site in the process. In examining this scenario, the challenge became evident: How could I contribute to sustaining this admirable initiative while garnering increased awareness and support? The solution lay in a thoughtful exploration of existing opportunities and crafting a proposal that not only acknowledged the sanctuary's achievements but also inspired a broader audience to join the cause.
The sanctuary's evolution reflects the city's resilience and community care. Inspired, I aimed for a design that mirrored this emotional impact, creating something memorable. Initially, vinyl cut-outs on public transportation windows depicted Rome's streets through silhouettes of stray cats. The focus was on intricate monochromatic silhouettes, emphasizing subtlety. Evolving, I integrated a patriotic color scheme, injecting vibrancy into the compositions for enhanced visual appeal. Exploring alternative solutions, I considered a metal sculpture in a central Roman square, surrounded by metal cat figures. This added a three-dimensional aspect to engage the community differently. Beyond visuals, the tagline underwent refinement, conveying a more direct and impactful message. This aimed to strengthen the connection with the audience, emphasizing the relationship between Rome's feline inhabitants and the dynamic urban landscape. In summary, the project evolved from monochromatic silhouettes to a vibrant color scheme, exploring three-dimensional elements. The refined tagline enhanced the overall impact, creating a compelling narrative in public transportation windows.
