How do You Belong?
Jim Joseph Foundation + Common Era
Two four-hour custom design sprints composed of 39 graduate and undergraduate students from across the SDS. Pedagogy was developed by three full-time faculty.
As artists, designers and strategists, we routinely witness how creativity brings us together. The How Do You Belong? Design Sprint in collaboration with Common Era, a Research & Development initiative of the Jim Joseph Foundation, invited eleven teams of students from diverse backgrounds and disciplines to design a small but impactful moment of belonging for others through the lens of their own emerging practices. Through this custom program, teams explored how the design of simple objects and experiences create a sense of belonging.
A 32-page booklet about the project was produced and distributed to attendees at the annual Parsons Benefit, a high-profile event in the spring of 2023. The Jim Joseph Foundation distributed the booklet to their network to champion the ideals of the Common Era initiative.
Together Through Taste fosters a sense of belonging through food. Gateway Cards educate about little known foods from around the world and include a QR code that links to a simple recipe that uses ingredients that are easy to obtain locally. The cards are featured in bodegas and local grocery stores.
As women navigate what may feel like an unfriendly city, We For Women builds a network of like-minded individuals. Through the use of visible messaging such as stickers, tote bags, lapel pins, etc., the campaign empowers women to engage in casual conversation; on the subway, in a park, or waiting for the elevator. To break down barriers, form human connection and possibly new friends.
The Not So-Low campaign seeks to overcome the difficulties of belonging in a community that does not understand the unique challenges low-income students encounter. It takes the form of a social media platform for college students from low-income backgrounds to creatively share experiences about the unique trials and tribulations they face.
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