It seems we don't like it -whatever it means

My second most read blog post so far is “What does it mean?”. That post developed from the distress people had over the Poster developed for National Volunteer Week in Australia. Despite the involvement of a volunteer in the design the response was clearly underwhelming. In fact, I  had so many negative emails sent to me and calls about it, that I invited people in my previous blog to complete an unofficial survey about the Poster. In that survey, I asked two questions:

1. For people to rate the poster out of 5 (5 being excellent) and 1 being “very poor”.
2. What people thought the poster meant

Results of the Rating

• 33% (about a third) said they felt the poster was “very poor”
• 27% saying it was “poor”

A  total of 60% (almost two thirds of the respondents)  said it was poor or very poor.

• 20% were neutral
• 13% said it was good 
• 7% said excellent

 In other words 80 per cent of respondents did not like the poster. The respondents to this survey, I assume,  would mostly be managers of volunteers. There were many comments made regarding the poster- some of which are listed below and some were also posted on my actual blog post.

I mean no disrespect to the poster designer nor do I seek to undermine National Volunteer Week. In fact, I want to ensure we use National Volunteer Week to do all it can to lift and celebrate volunteering in every country it is celebrated in. 

I acknowledge, that  It is always easier to critique something than design it but it is a concern that 80% of a group of people working with volunteers cannot see the meaning and do not like one of the primary tools for National Volunteer Week.

Volunteering Australia response to this survey was: "Creative design is always somewhat subjective. Thank you for your feedback." The good news for them is that within 90 minutes, 50,000 free 2011 National Volunteer week pins to be given by agencies to volunteers "sold out". At a limit of 100 pins per organisation, this means about 500-1000 agencies will have got the free pins for their volunteers. NB There are still stocks of the poster available (wonder why?)

The challenge is what are we trying to do with National Volunteer Week messaging wherever we celebrate it

• To inspire?
• To thank?
• To recruit?

Its a very hard job to do all three. Do we need three different types of posters? What would a meaningful engaging poster look like? What can we do that would really engage all many millions of Australia volunteers in 170 000 volunteer involving agencies across Australia? The same question needs to be asked in every country that runs a National Volunteer Week. In the meantime, of course, the volunteers keep serving. Thanks to all.

Poster Comments (more comments are on the previous Cowling Report Post regarding this Poster )

Positive Comments

• Unity and camaraderie in our great country. It is a opining of people, not who they are, but what they can do.
• I think having a faceless person is beaut. All people are included and all skills are merited.
• One person can assist in many places.
• My first reaction is, "It's nice". 
• I like the message the person and its shadow conveys.
• "I really like the saying.   I can use it for our recognition and the workplace volunteer program to encourage them to volunteer."
• "nice theme"

Mixed Comments

• I think the poster brings a message about "YOU can do something for the community!" However, it is too emphasize an individual. I think volunteering is a kind of group work rather than a single of power.
• statue of liberty and golden age of volunteering?
• One isolated person putting their hand up. It's always the "same" people doing that though. It has a sort of ANZAC quality about it too with the rays - that is sort of depressing to me as it implies "sacrifice" of sorts.
• looks like an academy award at first glance...but wording is good
• "Statue of Liberty?:   Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…"

Negative Comments

• Your guess is as good as mine. Who would really know.
• "It looks just like every boring National Volunteer Week poster I've seen"
• Stand up and be counted? Not sure what that has to do with volunteering
• that we all have it in us to give
• Beats Me!
• Makes no sense.
• buggered if I know
• I think the problem is that no one can figure out what they're trying to do ...recognition, recruitment, or...?"
• "Looks like someone walking into the light as they depart this mortal coil."
• " if the person is the inspiration what does it say that the group of people is just a shadow?"
• "call home ET"
• "it doesn't move me to action or inspire me. Sadly, I cannot explain why it is just a gut reaction."
• " the image, which I like doesn't fit with the message that is typed. How is a person standing on the horizon being inspired?" 
• "is it an alien?"

A number of people were concerned that it was too religious- a theme carried over into the comments made on my last blog post:
I think the poster has definite religious connotations
Looks too religious to me - religious conversion, seen the light.