How a Design Agency Helped Young Male Prisoners Reclaim Their Story
Here Design recently rebranded Untold, a charity that helps young male prisoners reclaim their story through creative education. The project was a unique collaboration between designers and prisoners, where the latter were given the opportunity to co-create a brand that would inspire and empower them to turn their lives around.
How Did You Start Working with Untold?
We were introduced to Untold through our partnership with the Design Against Crime Research Lab at Central Saint Martins. We were motivated to collaborate with the charity after a workshop with young offenders at HMP Isis, which was incredibly inspiring and motivated us to work more closely with the charity.
Teaching Design Fundamentals without Technology
Teaching design fundamentals to prisoners without technology was a challenging but rewarding experience. We relied on analog methods, using printed materials, paper, pens, and stencils to create a comprehensive course covering design strategy, logos, color theory, and typography. We designed an eight-week introductory course, making everything visual and interactive to accommodate different learning styles and backgrounds.
How Did You Whittle Down the Ideas and Choose a Final Direction?
We started by defining five key themes through a collaborative brainstorming process: proud, bold, transformative, radical, and optimistic. We used these themes to evaluate design choices and worked with the young men to refine twelve ‘big ideas’ into four creative territories, which eventually merged into two concepts. The final design was chosen through extensive discussion and debate, ensuring the young men had true creative ownership.
What Was the Process of Creating the New Logo?
The logo was directly inspired by the participants, who chose to use speech marks to symbolise giving a voice to those who are often silenced. Yellow was selected as the primary color because it represented warmth and optimism. We paired this with a confident typeface that reflected pride and strength.
What Challenges Did You Encounter?
Working in a prison presented numerous challenges, including security checks, restricted movement, and an unpredictable environment. We also had to be sensitive to the fact that many participants had negative educational experiences, with about a third being neurodivergent or having special educational needs.
What Did You Learn from Working with the Prisoners?
We learned that creativity can flourish in the most unexpected places. We saw how design and creative expression could be truly transformative, giving these young men a sense of purpose, confidence, and hope. We were reminded that great design isn’t about technology, but about strong ideas and meaningful collaboration.
What Was Your Favorite Part of the Process?
Watching the young men grow in confidence and take creative ownership of the project was incredibly rewarding. Seeing them develop design skills, articulate their ideas, and create something they were genuinely proud of was truly special.
How Will This Identity Help Untold and the Men?
The new identity has already made a significant impact. Since the rebrand, Untold has doubled its funding, secured five new partners, and increased course enrollment. More importantly, it has given the young men a sense of agency, creativity, and hope.
What’s the Feedback Been Like?
The feedback has been phenomenal. Three men involved in the project were transferred to open prisons after demonstrating outstanding behavior and commitment. One participant said the project made him more determined and gave him a sense of hope. Another appreciated the opportunity to express himself without criticism.
Anything Else to Add?
This project demonstrates the power of creative education in rehabilitation. By giving these young men a voice and meaningful creative opportunity, we’re not just designing a brand – we’re helping to potentially change life trajectories.
FAQs
Q: How did you engage with the prisoners?
A: We engaged with the prisoners through a workshop at HMP Isis, which was introduced to us by the Design Against Crime Research Lab at Central Saint Martins.
Q: What was the process of creating the new logo like?
A: The logo was created through a collaborative process with the prisoners, who chose to use speech marks to symbolise giving a voice to those who are often silenced.
Q: What were the challenges of working in a prison?
A: The challenges included security checks, restricted movement, and an unpredictable environment, as well as being sensitive to the participants’ negative educational experiences.
Q: What was the outcome of the project?
A: The project has resulted in a rebranded identity for Untold, which has doubled its funding, secured five new partners, and increased course enrollment, giving the young men a sense of agency, creativity, and hope.
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