UnFazed was a 6-week team project. I worked alongside designers Mavis Yao and Sybil Roberts.
The entire process was collaborative, however my primary contributions were the illustrations, logo animation, color palette, hand lettering, and some of the product design. We each conducted interviews, research, and initial logo sketches.
IT STARTED WITH AN ASSUMPTION.
From our personal experiences, it was assumed that sex education was lacking in the United States.
We remembered a lack of diversity in the curriculum. Our education focused on the heteronormative, so we initially set out to design for diversity.
ONE ASSUMPTION BECAME MANY ASSUMPTIONS.
- Sex education in the United States lacks inclusivity
- Some parents don't want their children to learn about certain topics
- Sex education is taboo and uncomfortable
AS IT TURNS OUT, THERE WAS ANOTHER PROBLEM ENTIRELY.
Interviews were conducted: a 5th grade teacher, an elementary school principal, a married mother with a 13 year old daughter, and a single gay dad with an 18 year old special needs daughter.
EACH INTERVIEWEE DISAGREED WITH OUR INITIAL ASSUMPTION.
We had three main takeaways from the interviews:
Sex education is improving in some US public schools. This could alleviate the concern many parents feel about the quality of education.
There often is a disconnect between kids and their parents when it comes to at-home sex education.
Sex education at home should begin early for normalization.
OUR NEW GOAL:
TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN PARENTS AND THEIR KIDS DURING SEX EDUCATION.
PERSONA #1: BEN
Ben is a 45 year old, single father of a 13 year old daughter. He is a gay man and grew up without education about his own sexuality.
He wants a different experience for his daughter, although his knowledge on the subject is limited. When it comes to researching and broaching the topic, he feels lost.
PERSONA #2: ANNIE
Annie is a 40 year old mother of an eleven year old daughter and 16 year old son. She wants to be a good resource of sex education for her kids, however her family taught only abstinence.
Because she had many questions as a teen, she tries to be there for her children. However, neither of them regularly come to her. Annie wants them to feel more comfortable.
PERSONA #3: JASMIN
Jasmin is a 30 year old middle school counselor. She doesn't have children of her own, but enjoys helping students at school.
Teens come to her with questions that they're too uncomfortable to ask their parents. She has knowledge on sex education and is there to inform. Jasmin is always on the lookout for reliable resources.
WE IDENTIFIED OUR PRIMARY PAIN POINTS AND AUDIENCE.
We were now ready to ideate solutions and begin crafting a hypothetical product. We outlined the main goals:
1. To keep sex education an ongoing, long-term conversation
2. Educating both kids and their parents on how to discuss taboo subjects
3. Be engaging for both children (5-18) and parents (20-50)
These goals could be reached with a customized, educational subscription box system. This concept is what directed my creation of the following logo sketches.
WE WANTED TO CREATE A DIVERSE CAST OF CHARACTERS.
This was alongside the design of the product and its brand. I was the illustrator of the project, so the character design and their personalities were taken on by me.
UNFAZED SUBSCRIBERS WOULD INTERACT WITH THE PRODUCT IN THE FOLLOWING WAY:
An adult would hear about UnFazed through advertising. This could be a pamphlet in a counselor's or doctors office, a poster series, etc.
They either go to UnFazed's social media account or directly to the website.
From there, users can customize a subscription box based on the age and needs of their children. LGBTQ+ options are available.
Every month, a customized box is shipped. The regular schedule of deliveries helps keep the conversation moving between adults and their children.
Within the subscription box are educational materials, most notably designed publications that, after talking together, kids can read in private. Parents can rest assured knowing their children have reliable information, and kids who are more uncomfortable with the conversation have the option to explore on their own.
The majority of the subscription box would consist of publications, each narrated by a cast of five characters. They have their own identities that influence the subjects that they teach.
For this example publication, the copy was taken from sexetc.org.
EACH OF THE FIVE CHARACTERS GROW UP WITH THE READER.
There are three "fazes": childhood (targeting ages 5-8), tween (ages 9-12), and teenage (13+).
Each faze teaches age appropriate information that will prepare the reader for the future. Below are brief introductions to the cast.
Jazz is a cis, straight woman. Subscribers learn about biologically female experiences. This includes menstruation, puberty, female masturbation, and more.
Renn is a cis, straight man. Subscribers learn about biologically male experiences. He is the male counterpart to Jazz.
Pema is a cis, lesbian woman. Subscribers learn about the nuances of relationships, same gender combinations, and even polyamory fall under her umbrella.
Clem is a transgender woman and bisexual. Subscribers learn about identity and navigating internal conflict.
Emry is a cis, asexual man. Subscribers learn about consent and navigating the social aspect of relationships rather than the physical.
ULTIMATELY, WE WANTED TO HELP PARENTS COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR CHILDREN.
Most parents want their children to have accurate and safe sex education, but are unsure on how to breach the subject. The majority of resources online had a target audience of teenagers and excluded their parents.
Through UnFazed, parents can be part of the conversation, while also allowing their teens to safely explore topics on their own. Our hope is that this conceptual product allows people to reconsider their relationship with sex education in the household and leads to a healthier future.