Designing a Toolbox for Sasha Bruce Youth
15Folks – Project Manager & Human Experience Designer
August 2023 - May 2024
Sasha Bruce Youth (SBY) is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC, dedicated to serving at-risk youth and their families.
WHAT
As Sasha Bruce Youth approached a significant anniversary milestone, they wanted to expand with large-scale programs – initially engaging the studio . However, several hurdles complicated the journey from point A to point B.
After discussing these challenges and their goals with SBY, it became apparent that the primary opportunities lay in increasing brand awareness and activation, enhancing the volunteer experience, and bolstering community support. We interacted with the youth, staff, and volunteers for a few weeks. During educational youth nights, we explored music production, played basketball, and conducted valuable field research.
After discussing these challenges and their goals with SBY, it became apparent that the primary opportunities lay in increasing brand awareness and activation, enhancing the volunteer experience, and bolstering community support. We interacted with the youth, staff, and volunteers for a few weeks. During educational youth nights, we explored music production, played basketball, and conducted valuable field research.
HOW
We divided our team into three focus groups, each brainstorming solutions for different opportunities. We analyzed concepts, balancing viability, feasibility, and desirability through both virtual sessions using Figma and in-person meetings.
THREE INTIAL CONCEPTS
After doing our inital divergent/covergent thinking, we broke off and developed three initial ideas as groups.
SBY Merch and e-Commerce
Working together with young people to create unique designs for physical merchandise, considering various manufacturing options.
Working together with young people to create unique designs for physical merchandise, considering various manufacturing options.
SBY Activation Toolkit
Empowering SBY to launch pop-up experiences around Washington, DC equipped
Improved Volunteer Experience
A revamped onboarding experience and toolkit are provided for volunteers. They are designed to instill confidence, ensure volunteers make an impact, and efficiently navigate the DC government's process for working with youth.
BREAKFAST + FEEDBACK
We invited staff and board members to join us for intimate feedback session, starting with a catered breakfast.
Co-creating with youth
We put the power of art direction in the hands of youth we were serving to produce high-level design artifacts.
We put the power of art direction in the hands of youth we were serving to produce high-level design artifacts.
Two Final Concepts Approved with SBY Feedback
The toolkit for physical pop-up activations is currently set aside. It requires a large group of volunteers/community members to come together in a short timeframe.
The toolkit for physical pop-up activations is currently set aside. It requires a large group of volunteers/community members to come together in a short timeframe.
- Co-created designs with youth will be printed on physical merchandise.
- For the 50th Anniversary Gala, attendees will receive a box. It contains a toolbox for impactful communication with community members, youth, and other stakeholders, along with commemorative, narrative design objects such as a book compendium of stories from the SBY podcast “The Curb.”