All work for CitizenDetroit™ is as lead designer for EarlyWorks, llc. Event photography by Nicole St. John Hamborsky
CitizenDetroit is a nonprofit organization that is “building on Detroit’s proud history of civic action” by making it “the most informed and engaged city in the nation.” It was founded by local grassroots activist Sheila Cockrel, who is a part of that history. I helped move their language into a consistent visual brand, with the purpose of activating residents’ energy and understanding of government systems and their role and potential within them. To create their verbal and visual voice, it was important to hone in on key questions about purpose, goals, audience, and community interest. While cross-platform materials varied widely depending on programs (e.g. policy paper formats, forms for notetaking at city council meetings, content and marketing for social events), their Dinner & Dialogue™ events steal the show. These are large monthly social gatherings addressing specific local issues. Speakers and panelists discuss topics with the audience, while each table works through interactive programming, guided by a facilitator– all over dinner and conversation. These events required timelines and processes and included unique mailed and emailed invites, social media imagery, event signage, workbooks, and additional printed and visual materials unique to each event. The team worked hard to insure complicated issues and governmental language was verbally and visually accessible— this meant honing in on the root of any one issue and the community’s concern about it. It was also important that I assist and participate in these events so I could best understand what was working and what could be enhanced.
We started 2018 off by hosting the first annual Citizen Assembly, in which, as a group of 300+ people, we created a “Top Ten Things” most important to the people of Detroit. This list informed subsequent programs and was a crucial step, for true engagement and empowerment. I consider myself an engaged member of society, but my work with CitizenDetroit has elevated even my own understanding of policies and laws. I believe in this organization because of the commitment to access to unbiased information. They are committed to presenting all angles of a situation, allowing the participant to form their own view. In a time where people are constantly being sold on a “perspective,” this deeply resonates with me and CitizenDetroit’s audience.
Award: — Honorable Mention, Branding Category, 2019 Indigo Design Award
