Studio Rigiani blog by Sophia Sargeant: April 2018

Introduction/Back Story

For my Final Body of Works to graduate my BA Graphic Design degree, I knew that I wanted to do something centred around helping those who society tends to suppress. As a social activist, I advocate for equality of race, gender and class.

In January 2018, a homeless man died on the street due to his sleeping bag being taken away. As we continued to see an increase in the cold weather and snow due to the Beast from the East, the deaths among the homeless had risen. However, it wasn't the death toll that affected me the most; it was the sadness that I felt when I realised that I couldn't even empathise the suffering and pain that rough sleepers must experience, while we turn on our heating and wrap up warm.

I remember visiting New York City in February 2017, and a statement from a homeless man really stood out to me "I know I'm a worthless piece of shit" he said "but could I please have some food", and of course, just off of the forever busy Times Square, no one stopped to help. Every time I'm in Central London I see homeless people, who not only do not have a home but are suffering too. Walking into London College of Communication while I studied for my Foundation Diploma in Art & Design, the underpass used to be a regular spot for the homeless. Every day, when I would walk in, I would hear the begging of those in need, while everyone walked on. One day, a man was actually screaming "PLEASE! PLEASSEEEE!!"; admittedly, when you're walking through an underpass which is quite nerve-wracking alone, hearing someone screaming at you made you more determined to look ahead and exit as quick as possible. But looking back, I feel terrible, as for that man to have been screaming with such desperation, it now makes me realise the suffering he must have been experiencing - and no one stopped to help, including me.

Whenever we hear someone in need, when we are selfishly trying to get on with our day, we tend to not make eye contact and pretend that they do not exist. We turn a blind eye and allow these things to happen to other human beings. After discussing this issue with others, I noticed something. Particularly within females, I discovered that people felt uncomfortable when approaching a stranger who is asking for help. Whether it's the fear of safety or awkwardness, there is always something that prevents us from walking up to them and asking if there is anything they need. It's easy enough to throw money into a pot, as lose change (often coppers) is something that no one cares to have in their purse/wallet, however that doesn't amount to much, and there is always the uncertainty that cash donations could contribute towards the purchasing of drugs or alcohol, rather than basic survival needs. I believe that there are stereotypes and assumptions about the homeless: that they're possibly mentally unstable and drug users. This, of course, discourages people to help.

I decided this needs to change. I needed to find a way where the homeless could ask for help, and people would not only listen but would take note and feel safe enough to act on this aid to physically help. In our current Age, everyone in large cities has their phones with them. When we are pretending to ignore the pleas of the homeless, we idly scroll through our phones as a distraction.

The solution

I came up with a system called here2aid, to remind people that we are HERE to help one another and to also navigate people from their current location 'here' to where the aid is needed. The idea is that there would be digital screens (kiosks) installed around London, and possibly other towns and cities too, where rough sleepers/those in need can input a specific need or request (including any allergies that they may have, or specific requirements such as socks). Once this request has been submitted, the general public can accept these aids, almost like a quest, via their phone app. Once they have accepted the aid, a navigation system would locate the user to the digital kiosk where the request was made, so that the specific needs can be met in a public and secure environment.
This system promotes dignity, as through the use of the here2aid kiosks, the homeless do not need to physically beg people for their help - it provides them with the respect that they deserve as we are all humans. As the general public can accept or decline the requests, it still gives them the option to provide aid or not, but I believe that the virtual communication would assist with alleviating any worries or fears that people may have with approaching a stranger, as they would be accepting aid requests digitally, and then drop them off to the digital kiosk where the request was made. If the user does not want to experience physical interaction, they do not need to. Furthermore, it would encourage people to contribute, as many people do not agree with donating to charities as there are many conspiracies about where the money and the aid really goes; this way you know exactly what is being donated and to who. You have more control and a hands-on experience with doing good.

The branding and identity

As I wanted here2aid to be respectful and overall friendly, I decided to go for a calming and approachable aesthetic, as outlined in our branding guidelines. Using shades of green and grey (as a softer substitute for black) the colour scheme is soothing and calming. Similarly, I opted for a humanist, sans-serif typeface for the app text, Myriad Pro. I used regular weight for the body text and Myriad Pro Bold for information hierarchy. Headers feature the muted green while the body is a mid-tone grey. For advertising and promotional materials that are marketing towards the general public rather than the homeless, slightly bolder methods have been used. Striking statements are written in Bureau Grotesque for more power and intensity, while still being kept soft with white on green. Black only features on the poster designs, for added contrast in order to be powerful and more attention-grabbing. The language used throughout the brand is optimistic and more hopeful, rather than emotive and dark. I wanted here2aid to have a subtle effect, rather than pushy, but an effect that makes a positive and hopeful impression. Icons have been used to accommodate text within the app, for ease of use and to echo the friendliness of the brand; this idea has been repeated within the logo and app icon/website favicon along with the colour scheme, to tie it all together. I have made a document called 'Little Book of Elements' to showcase these branding and identity decisions, to complement my project.

The outcomes

Originally, I set out to only create the design interface for both the digital kiosks to be used by the homeless and also the connecting app to be used by the general public. However, this project has developed into an entire brand, as I hope to obtain permission, funding/investors, and the ability to make this a reality. Along with creating the entire brand identity and designing the two interfaces, I have also produced a promotional video that explains the project and how it is to be used in its designed situation. I designed invitations/promotional packs that would be delivered to potential users, to inform them about the app and encourage them to download and begin to provide aid; cards from recycled t-shirts have also been produced as additional marketing tools, as on the back there is a QR code with a short snappy statement, for people to scan. By scanning the QR code they are redirected to the here2aid website, a website that I designed and developed so that people can watch the introductory video, test/experience the two apps and how they work plus also download the posters that I designed. Along with the posters, the QR code can also be downloaded, as I converted the design into stickers as a campaign idea, so that people can stick the QR code onto bins to encourage people to consider what they are throwing away and who it could not only benefit but who they can provide this too, via the app. Social media has a loud and far voice, so by creating a campaign where I will encourage participants to upload their images of the QR stickers in public locations to a controlled # tag, I hope to promote the idea of wasting less by aiding more.