WINNER
The Micropedia of Microaggressions
by Zulu Alpha Kilo, for Black Business and Professional Association, et al.
The Black Business and Professional Association, the Canadian Congress on Inclusive Diversity & Workplace Equity, Pride at Work, and the Diversity Institute collaborated to create The Micropedia – the world's first encyclopaedia of microaggressions.
Microaggressions are subtle put-downs, assumptions, and comments that, regardless of intention, can be hurtful. The tool will develop and grow as more definitions, information, and real-world examples of microaggressions from news, media, and pop culture are submitted.
Spanning nine categories that represent marginalised groups, entries into the Micropedia explain how a specific microaggression is harmful in a clear, judgement-free way. User’s entries will help to expand the tool into a global resource for training and education. Each DEI partner developed the Micropedia by vetting and adding to all submissions.
The challenge with this project was enabling the self-awareness required to prevent microaggressions. The success of the tool reflects its necessity, as the site has engaged users from over 115 countries and received nearly double the total number of entries in user submissions, with no paid promotion.
Major organisations have also shown interest in embracing the resource as part of their DEI efforts and the Micropedia will even be part of Government of Canada's 50-30 Challenge program to accelerate diversity efforts in workplaces nationwide.
The judges said: “Web design and the rest of the brand wowed me. Easy to understand and use.”
Vault49 x Black Lives Matter
by Vault49
Vault49 x Black Lives Matter campaign launched in 2020 when the BLM protests started in New York. The studio wanted to help shine a light on the injustices and police brutality towards black people.
Going back to the agency's roots, the team collaborated on a series of bold typographic posters aimed at catching people's attention around the city. It used imagery of the 1950s and 60s – an era of activism and a time of socio-political change – to convey the power of protest.
Posters were designed to be deliberately uncomplicated, displaying a bold and simple typeface over contrasting bright coloured paper stock, making them accessible to the masses. Since the initial protests, the team have continued to design, print and share new runs of the posters around NYC to keep pushing the narrative.
Do Something for Nothing
by Phoenix Wharf
Phoenix Wharf collaborated with 'Do Something for Nothing' Founder Joshua Coombes to create of a new book and website, taking readers into the lives of humans experiencing homelessness across the globe.
Hairstylist Joshua took to the streets with his scissors in 2015 to build relationships with and offer haircuts to homeless men and women in the capital, which initiated the idea for this project. Phoenix Wharf were keen to get involved and offered their professional design time and expertise.
They contributed to the design, artwork, layout concepts and templates for the book, and to the website design. The team at Phoenix Wharf created a low maintenance theme-based platform for the website. Consistent with Do Something for Nothing's current aesthetic, the studio created a photography-led design and included Joshua's bespoke, handwritten typeface and illustration.
A key aim of the project is to dissolve the negative stigmas surrounding homelessness. Author profits from the new book will fund future not-for-profit art projects, giving voice to the lives of the people Joshua meets.
Creative Ecosystems
by Athletics, for Annika Hansteen-Izora
During the 2020 Black Lives Matter demonstrations, Athletics joined forces with activist-creative Annika Hansteen-Izora, whose vision was to cultivate Black creative ecosystems.
These are communities led by Black people to advance art, creativity, and imagination. They set out building an online directory of Black creative organisations, helping other Black creatives to find resources, inspiration, and community.
The project evolved from a Google spreadsheets list to an intuitive digital experience where individuals and organisations can connect with like-minded communities ranging from galleries to incubators, publications to parties.
The project’s visual identity is rooted in the idea of support, togetherness, and intersectionality. This is demonstrated through dual typefaces that swap display roles based on the context or type of content.
Fundamentally based on collaboration, Athletics designed every aspect of the identity to co-exist with different organisations and brands, while retaining a clear presence for Creative Ecosystems as the curator and cultivator.
Social Design
shortlisted
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Tump 53
by Alphabetical, for Peabody
Tump 53 is an urban nature reserve in Thamesmead, South London, which explores the relationship between people, flora and fauna, using sound, installations, an educational app and AR.
Peabody – one of the largest social housing trusts in the UK – challenged Alphabetical to create an inspirational placemaking design. They achieved this through interactive workshops for children centred around discovering the local flora and fauna of Tump 53, highlighting why they are so important to our ecosystem.
Typographic installations designed to be tactile and blend in with shrubbery surround the nature reserve, made from recycled materials, including old bottle tops and weatherboards. The app element integrates AR design, intending to bring the installations to life, making learning about wildlife fun for families. It also tried to increase engagement by breaking down language barriers. Since launch, Tump 53 is welcoming unprecedented growth in local visitor numbers to the reserve.