Just within the Los Angeles area, 10 metric tons of plastic fragments—used soda bottles, trash bags, condoms, hypodermic needles, and tampon applicators—are carried into the ocean not every year, but every single day. Thousands enter the Pacific Ocean in Los Angeles every single day, but is this truly a wise decision? With the year of the El Nino enormous quantities of hazardous unfiltered storm water is dumped into the aquatic ecosystem. Oceanic advisory systems give Los Angeles water an “F” rating after precipitation and a “C” rating for some beaches even when there has been no rain. Can you imagine if a young child was pricked by a used HIV positive hypodermic needle just because they were playing in the ocean? People have to more informed of the daily ocean water quality so this
never happens.
I will be combating the health risks that have emerged from the overly polluted ocean waters in urban environment through design by not only creating a mobile application, but also a photography series that portrays the dangers unseen. The mobile application is a feasible solution because it will be able to send users notifications of daily water quality readings, and will help the general public combat future pollution by allowing users to post about local beach clean-ups. The physical interaction between people and the mobile application allows for the instantaneous access of information, therefore they will have the choice whether or not to be in contact with hidden bacteria and hazardous materials that may be in the water. The photo series will visually interpret the emotional impact of the degrading Los Angeles aquatic environment.
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