This project was undertaken by a small group of design students in two days. We worked with industry partners to understand the project brief and try to collectively design an appropriate solution to pitch back to the partners on day three.
The team worked with social enterprise 'The Good Box' who help people experiencing homelessness get access to essential items.
We recognised the importance of the original Good Box design, however we realised the box can be inconvenient for someone on the move to carry with them. The personal hand written note was the most valuable piece in the box but in it's current format it could easily be disregarded, lost or damaged.
A tote bag is more convenient, transportable and serviceable way of storing items for someone who is always on the move. The donor/buyer of the box can also choose to purchase a matching tote bag, simultaneously increasing marketing presence for the Good Box. The personalised note is put onto the tote bag and becomes a more permanent way of keeping the note.
Each order features a special tote bag with space on the back side for a handwritten note. The individual purchaser, school group or corporate function will also receive a tote bag for each box donated, complete with an original Good Box story (i.e. Patrick, Marcy or Debbie and Joshua). When packing the Good Boxes, instead of writing a note on paper the volunteer writes the message on the bag instead. The tote bags are made from highly durable waterproof canvas with thick woven polyester straps that can support lots of use, outliving cheaper standard tote bags and making the bags more sustainable through their longevity
The tote will be a dark purple or blue canvas to reduce the appearance of dirt and stains, and maintaining a clean visual appearance when worn. Once the box has been delivered to the person in need the recipient can then transport their items in a more convenient way.
The tote bag that the box donors receive will also be available in the merchandise section of the Good Box website, ready for individual purchase
The most treasured part of the Good Box donations are the handwritten notes because they are a source of kind words and support a person experiencing homelessness might not hear very often. By incorporating these messages of support into the bag we can give the wearer a talisman of sorts to carry with them, close to their hearts (almost literally). By providing a bag with each Good Box donation we can help aid the nomadic lifestyle of the recipients and help them keep their belongings together as they move from place to place. Each possession becomes more valuable when you have the bare minimum so we need to create a space to carry things with dignity.
Our tote bag is also another way to get The Good Box name out there and onto a more durable item, creating more awareness for the company as well as promoting all the good they do.
What makes this tote bag special is the uniqueness of each one and the thoughtful note written for each individual.
It could be any one of us on the streets tomorrow and i would like to think that someone was thinking of me in that situation
With a team featuring students of architecture and interior architecture disciplines as well as visual communications we all had unique perspectives that influenced our final idea.
