The Ripple Effect immerses readers in the diverse tapestry of volunteer experiences, acts of kindness, and creative photography. The process of creating The Ripple Effect lasted for over three months with 10,000 words documenting my experience volunteering for local organizations. Within the book, many veteran volunteer interviews are provided.
Over the three-month process, I have traveled all over York County volunteering and documenting my experiences. Showcased in this book are many organizations such as the Red Cross, Hope, Olivia's House, York County Food Bank, etc. Along with volunteering, I also did acts of kindness from giving out flowers, inspirational cards, holding open the door, and donating clothing.
This journey took me on a path of self-discovery. Spending that time to truly learn how to live a life focusing on the needs of others. Along with the creation of the book, I have additionally made a social media account to connect people with volunteer opportunities as well as spread kindness to the world.
The design of The Ripple Effect has a clean and modern look with black-and-white photography. The small amounts of five different colors (Deep blue, red, yellow, green, and pink) allow for the brightness of each experience to shine through. Overall, the design speaks to the deep meaning of the book. With dark blacks, bold sans serif typeface, and black and white photography, the tone of the book is very serious. Through my experience, I heard the stories of many people in my community and understood that volunteering isn't all smiles. It comes with many hardships and deep determination. Through the design, I wanted to capture the overall seriousness as well as a call to the audience to create a life with a Live to Give Mentality.
Instagram: @therippleeffectpa
The Ripple Effect received 3rd place in the Annual Juried Show at York College of PA in 2024. Juror was Anna Jordan.
