A short analysis article of being featured in the Voice Newspaper twice within 12 months During February and December of 2023, it was an honour to be featured in one of the UK important cultural-related publications in the UK. Beforehand I have attempted to request to be featured for many years with the news publications and publications related to the project I have to developed. I was excited and so happy that I was finally featured with one of the UK's most recognised culturally related publications. February edition (2023) The first time I was featured was related to a video campaign I was involved in as a featured participant to showcase Birmingham's Legacy since the city beyond the Commonwealth Games and what factors were needed to support disabilities from benefits to employment Read by Article below to find out more December edition (2023) The second time when I was featured was related to my special participation role. This was related to being involved in an open consultation by the Department for Work and Pensions in changing their procedures to encourage more disabilities into employment. In addition, I have developed a special family of objective insight documents which present the aspects and solutions. Both articles were written by The Voice Midlands correspondent Veron Graham. It was well-written concise and written to the audience with greater context and insight. So I would like to share a special thank you to Veron Graham and the team at Voice newspaper to feature my stories and developments in the past 12 months. Notice to editors
The Voice The monthly newspaper publications cover a variety of stories and topics related to UK-born people with the ethnicity of African-Caribbean backgrounds. In 2022 the paper celebrated its 40th Anniversary since then paper launched when it was a weekly publication to a monthly edition today in print and via a paywall subscription online. Keith Mckenzie Keith is an awareness campaigner, a creative designer (Graphic design and digital art) and a salsa dancing participant With a background in Art & Design (including Graphic Design & Digital art) and a participant in music-related film documentaries, events & record label project King Of the Beats including filming and behind the scene preparations. Keith was educated at Hereford College of the Arts, the University of Northampton, Birmingham City University and Google's Digital Garage. Since 2000, he has developed over twenty years in providing awareness projects, campaigns and activities with the Awareness brand Plus Value Awareness along with Differences Originals. Also are involved with salsa classes in the local community as an assistant. Also have participated in major dancing conventions at Birmingham's NEC for Birmingham Latinmotion and London's ManboCity. In 2022, Keith became a featured community participant for Birmingham who became part of special projects and campaigns to promote a positive legacy beyond hosting the Commonwealth Games
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This blog provides my insight on developing and trailing an interactive touchpoint organiser when I was volunteering for Latinmotion's annual convention, the NYE Fest. Background For many years when I was volunteering for this salsa dancing convention, I was using a group of printed fold-out materials as my volunteering pack. My role including monitoring oncoming visitors and participation is wearing the appropriate wristband when entering the events area of the venue. Also, it provides information and to access different elements of the event schedules including specific classes, workshops, presentations, live shows and different social parties between four different rooms. This can be extremely demanding as hundreds of visitors and participations pass through into the events areas every hour within a four-hour volunteering schedule. So using an organiser as a tool & a reference to make sure my autistic difficulties do not compromise my role and requirements. This is especially because there is a lot of information and reminders to remember during the volunteering role. Historical or previous context Although these printed materials worked well most of the time it did not able for me to be adaptable which specific situations occur. Especially when it is not possible to access specific information and guidelines quickly with particular print materials and particular foldout areas of a document. This includes uncompromising visitors who have no or invalid wristbands and those who are hostile and disrespectful. Also, the printed documents made it harder to able to deal with the extreme and disruptive behaviour of visitors and crew members. Because it this I have experienced mental health and anxiety which affect my confidence to volunteer. So I wanted to create a different way of being organised while increasing my ability to be flexible and adaptable. Before developing a digital organiser I was creating interactive touch point documents including an art & design portfolio and and general showcase. This was used for networking related to awareness, creative and other opportunities. Visit the Development blog for more Prototype material This led to the development of prototype digital materials with interactivity. The documents are made of main and section index pages, information, maps reminders and guidance pages within sections. It incorporates the information previously used for printed organisers as a potential digital organiser. When it was initially created I shared the prototype digital documents with key members & leaders of Latinmotion the event organiser of NYE Fest. The team was fascinated by my developments and asked several questions and addressed a potential scenario on how I cope. It was becoming obvious the interactive organiser had able me to manage more and become more prepared. Developments level The next stage is to refine the information and prepare the rest of the information and content which enables to completion the materials. While this was found I was refining the graphics and presentation to make sure the material will maintain my attention when using the material during a four-hour volunteering duty. Regularly I had to test the materials and make updates, modifications & alterations to the information presentation and features. This continued until I was happy with the results. The design presentation combined vibrant & design features. The vibrant side is inspired by the graphics & design presentation used for US live sports broadcasts & networks which incorporate bold headline titles, three-dimensional visual effects, and colour blends. The typeface "Impact" was used as the document page titles to align the document to how the typeface is used on the official materials of the event. Meanwhile, the "Lato" typeface was used for paragraph text as it was easy for the eye to read the content quickly. Meanwhile, the practical side incorporated colour coding to identify the sections of the organiser and used solid colour blocks of different sizes behind the certain written content related to communication protocols, guidelines and specific instructions. Adding the quick shortcut links There are at times certain information needs to be accessed quickly which goes beyond the main & section index pages. So the quick & shortcut links were added to bridge the gap. The quick links are displayed on detailed information pages. It is either used as an addition lino with the same or a different section of the document. Throughout the document family of quick links are used to get around the document at high speed when needed. This is displayed consistently on one side of the document pages. The completion The finalisation of the documents was made when the official programme was announced and the finalised details of the events map. This was because the room's location was changed. This led to the final test of the interactivity to make the documents work before making final alterations. For volunteering the digital organiser was used For a specific tablet device was used For display purposes only (which is different from general devices I used For personal purposes) this is for privacy & security reasons. Using the digital organiser From start to finish of each volunteering duty the use of the interactive volunteer has been a seamless experience. It has enabled me to remove all stress and pressures when unplanned situations occur. It not only enabled me to be versatile and adaptable when required I was also able expand my capabilities beyond what so can manage. Review, decision and approach The overall analysis is that we need to be creative and imaginative when it comes to developing materials tools and references which lead to enable to best out of others. It is not always about what's the following or creating trends or the next big Innovation. We need to think smartly to develop positive solutions within the resources and a vision. Developing the interactive volunteer organiser was a vision inspired by news broadcasts when a journalist presented information from a large touchscreen. Especially when it is used on US election broadcasts on television and provides real-time results The Final conclusion So it's not about thinking ahead is about having a vision with smarter creativity & solutions View the project information page with more on the design aspects of the project by visiting the creative page Find out about my involvement in the NYE Fest by visiting the Dancing Direction webpage
Highlights of the annual occasion which stands out compared to any other new year celebrations. The NYE Fest is the biggest and one the most recognised New Year salsa dancing events in the UK & Europe. The event took place from Saturday the 30th December through to many years day Monday 1st January at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel at the heart of the NEC organised by Latinmotion provides a family of workshops, classes, social dance and exclusive live performances. The event attracts attendees from around the UK and beyond. As well as an attendee I was a volunteer and participant behind the scenes. Volunteering My volunteer incorporates many different roles including monitoring the appropriate response or when visitors and participants are entering the event area of the venue. Also, I assisted in setting up party items during the New Year's Eve celebrations and helping to dismantle the equipment and items after the event closed. Wrap my volunteering roles I was available to provide assistance or guidance facilities and to help direct visitors and participants to the appropriate locations of the event. This was my fifth time volunteering but this event and I used my experience to say my suggestions several months beforehand to make sure the volunteering team had a coordinated and supportive working environment with respect throughout. Innovation during my volunteering This year's team role was the most innovative and groundbreaking ever as I introduced using an interactive touch digital volunteering organiser. This was used on a custom use tablet device for this role. Enables me to be organised and resourced for all the important information of the events along with guidance and procedures depending on the information required or if a challenging situation occurred. The digital interactive organiser was designed and developed by myself to find out more click on the following links below Presenting surprise This was not the end of the story because my role expanded One special involves surprising the founders of Latinmotion to acknowledge the achievement of more than 30 years since both founders started the organisation way back in 1993. Despite I made one minor error the audience approved and appreciated this special surprise moment. Digital Signage trail I offered to provide a unique solution after the venue hosts of the event organisers to access their large green digital signs to promote the event the programme and additional information. So before the event began I was developing prototype digital signage. This involves a lot of research and consultations with organisations that use digital signs regularly. What I have developed is designed to help people welcome to the event and now all the essential information including the event map and the events schedule. Sadly because of information that was not brought to our attention my specialty-designed digital signage was able to be used at this year's event. However but what I have developed there is a possibility that will have developed could be used in future events My insight As expected the event brought in some of the finest dances from all over the UK to put together one of the brightest New Year's events out there. But it doesn't stop there, I can become an innovative participant with an interactive organiser and the prototype digital signage for future events. Towards Inclusivity Within the past year, I have developed my dancing awareness Project inclusive to dance which provides information and guidance to enable inclusivity regardless of abilities. This was sad to the event leaders and some of the visitors and participants. Beyond the event I have decided that the detailed suggestion documents for embrace dancing environment and convinces is to be fully developed for everyone for the first time. In the past it was limited to the team leaders of Latin Motion and London's Mambo City and in 2022 these documents were featured on the UK's most important awareness campaigners for Anna Kennedy OBE. The dancing inclusivity documents are now available to view and download by visiting the "Embracing Direction" page Party night and daytime matinee The parties took place on Saturday the 30th of December, New Year's Eve and the daytime hours of New Year's Day. Within the four different rooms, the dance floors were full of dancers throughout. Each day also presented exclusive dance performances from professional dancers. The countdown towards the midnight celebrations on New Year's Eve concludes with the midnight celebrations moment, combining the traditional cheers and hugs along with the energetic and vibrant dancing demonstrations. The event concludes on New Year's Day (during daytime only) with classes, social dances and a bonus of a live band performing. Visit the mini feature for details of the NYE Fest
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About meI have an career background related to art & design, a participant on a music project King of the Beats and developed of series of awareness projects for local communities Archives
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