We Do Care - Pitchbook

WE DO CARE A PUBLIC ART PROJECT
ENGAGING THE YOUTH & COMMUNITY OF THE NEAR WEST SIDE.

INNOVA
DESIGN TEAM
INNOVA
INNOVA.STUDENTGROUP@GMAIL.COM

We are INNOVA, a student-led design group from IUPUI | Herron
School of Art + Design, majoring in Visual Communication Design.
Our project falls under our VCD5: Methods for Innovation course,
where we practice applying the design process towards tackling
complex problems.
Through using design research methods and tools, we develop
better insights for creating impactful solutions for the Indianapolis
community.
CONTACT INFORMATION
BRI METZGER | SARA FRUCCI | REYES ROJAS | KWOK LEE | KATE FENOGLIO

BACKGROUND
Innova aims to grow the Indianapolis arts & culture scene by
establishing new opportunities for community expression in
less visually expressive areas. Our research began by exploring
were inspired by the amount of public art that lines the streets
of Mass Ave and Fountain Square, and sought to create a
similar energy in Near Westside Indianapolis. While the Near
Westside lacks the popular venues and sculptures of Mass Ave
and Fountain Square, we found several vacant areas and wall
spaces that could turn into canvases for community art
projects.
brainstorming sessions with Near Westside stakeholders
Derrick Burnett, who is a artist and art educator at George
Washington Community High School, and his students. Our
sessions helped to guide our project concept towards relating
to the area’s needs. The amount of crime and destruction
within the school’s neighborhoods transformed the purpose of
our project into creating public art pieces that encourage a
safer, and more hopeful Near Westside community.

“How might we engage 7th & 8th
graders of George Washington High
School to increase community
expression of the Near West Side
through public art.”
SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
BRAINSTORM SESSION DRAWING SESSION REFLECTION
COMMON THEMES
APATHY DESTRUCTION VIOLENCE

WORKING WITH THE ARTIST
ABOUT DERROCK
Our first step towards improving the Near West Side was to
enlist the help of Derrock Burnett. He is an Indianapolis-based
artist and high school art teacher with a wealth of experience
in painting and art education. His visual expressions of emotion
and issues reflecting the African American experience have
captivated a variety of audiences and recently gained a
set-feature on season 2 of Empire.

DERROCK’S ROLE
Although Derrock’s personal work serves as an artistic outlet
when he isn’t teaching, he has also expressed interest in
getting his students to engage in art-related activities outside
of the classroom as well. His enthusiasm towards garnering a
public art project has helped guide Innova to facilitate a
solution that will improve the area surrounding George Washington
High School using his own expertise, his students, and the
support of local business owners.
Derrock’s recent work “Crown” that was featured on Empire

THE OUTCOME
THE EVENT
Our goal is to create a beautifying event in the spring that would take place close
to George Washington High School on the Near West Side. “We Do Care” has
the goal to take the apathy present within the community and turn it into
empathy. By having this event we hope to create a sense of ownership in the
neighborhood while promoting how much this area has to offer. We think by
having the kids involved the future of this section of the city is more likely to
succeed.
During the event we plan on having both a mural section lead by Derrock and his
students and a planting section lead by students and community members. We
think the combination of public art and planting has the potential, if continued,
to turn the Near West Side into a cultural hub.

BRANDING
MARKETING
VIDEO STENCIL T SHIRT
created shareable content in the form of a video. This will be helpful for social
media and creating buzz for the event. Lastly a stencil invitation will be for the
actual event, a physical manifestation of what “We Do Care” promotes.

HOW YOU
We need your support. Innova is in the process of turning this
from a senior project to an actual event. We can’t do it alone
so we are rallying experienced people in art, horticulture,
event planning, and community organizing. Any tips or guiding
to improve this project would be gratefully accepted. Thank
you for your interest in our project and we look forward to
having your involvement.
-INNOVA MEMBERS
$
FUNDING KNOWLEDGE VOLUNTEERS ARTIST

CAN HELP