Art contest promotes fire safety awareness
October 8, 2014
The Office of the State Fire Marshal is holding an infographic design contest open to all Kansans currently enrolled in a secondary education institution.
The infographic must be related to fire safety and entrants are strongly encouraged to use information found on the Kansas Fire Incident Reporting System website.
First, second and third prize will be awarded to the best infographics. Winners will receive $200, $100, and $50, respectively, see their work featured on the Kansas fire marshal website and see it published in the 2013 KFIRS Annual Report. Additionally, winners may have the opportunity to present their work at the National Fire Incident Reporting System Workshop in Kansas City.
“The opportunities to speak will depend on the winner,” said Sarah Wood, NFIRS Program Manager. “If first place isn’t comfortable speaking or can’t make the particular event we’ll move down the line of winners. We have a couple of different events and may offer the opportunity to multiple people.”
Winning artists will also have new material to add to their professional portfolio.
“The portfolio is the most important tool when students seek positions in the design field,” said Glenda Taylor, chair of the art department. “Having a strong portfolio that includes designs that have been used for promotions, information, or sales is important to document design ability as well as success in the ‘real’ world.”
Since 90 percent of information transferred to the brain is visual, an infographic may prove to be a more effective way to convey information about fire safety.
“You can read statistics all day about fire but seeing it for yourself in black and white data just might be the kick someone needs to tighten up on fire safety,” said Wood
For info and rules, visit www. ksfm.ks.gov/visualize.