#offtherecord
STANDING UP FOR THE HARMED
Mobbing and sexual violence in the workplace are still a reality for many Polish women. The Zamenhof Institute decided to shed light on this issue in a report titled "Offtherecord: Sexual Harassment of Journalists in Poland." Together with the Tech To The Rescue foundation, we had the privilege to support the Institute in raising awareness about sexual violence in Polish media.
Havenocode's scope of work included the overall graphic concept, as well as the design and implementation of the website where the report could be downloaded as a PDF file and where journalists' testimonies, who had experienced or witnessed sexual violence, could be read. The platform's primary purpose was to amplify the impact of the report, facilitate discussions, and engage stakeholders in finding solutions to the problem of sexual harassment in the media industry.
Our work
IMPRESSIVE MINIMALISM
Challenges: enhancing the website's message with unconventional solutions, simplicity and clarity, animations, custom illustrations.
The Zamenhof Institute entrusted us with the artistic direction of the project, which was executed by our UX/UI team with the additional involvement of an illustrator we invited to collaborate.
Our UX/UI team, including art direction experts, worked closely with the client to design an intuitive and visually appealing platform that would resonate with the campaign's key message. The art direction played a crucial role in shaping the platform's aesthetics, which in turn informed the entire visual communication of the project.
"If someone says something off the record, they do not want it to be publicly reported."
For the campaign, we created a short, powerful, clear, and thought-provoking title. Drawing inspiration from media jargon, it reflects the situation of journalists who were condemned by the media community to years of silence regarding the sexual violence they experienced or witnessed. The title "Off the record" was accepted by the client without any objections and became the guiding slogan for the entire report.
Webdesign
Our UI design project drew inspiration from printed press and elements associated with media, such as news tickers, camera indicators, and sensational tabloid headlines.
The color palette is minimalist yet striking and contrasting. It mainly revolves around graphite, pure white, shades of gray, and an accent color of pale red. The convention is reinforced by the strong combination of an oversized sans-serif font for headlines and a monotype font for paragraphs, reminiscent of printed mass media.
Illustrations
For the project, we collaborated with Jarek Mankiewicz, a graphic designer, illustrator, and animator currently residing in Lisbon. His distinctive style and clear yet non-pathetic message conveyed through the illustrations seamlessly fit into the overall artistic concept, adding distinctiveness and character to it.
Summary
Constant dropping wears away the stone
The media industry is just the tip of the iceberg. Psychological and physical violence, mobbing and sexual abuse at work and in private life are a nightmarish and overwhelming reality for many Polish women, regardless of the industry. For decades, this issue has been silenced, but it is high time to speak out loud and clear.
We are honored to have been invited to contribute to such a significant and socially important project, and to have been able to contribute to the necessary social and cultural changes in our country.
Collaborating with the Zamenhof Institute has been an exceptional experience for us. The immense trust bestowed upon us unleashed a wave of creativity and added even greater significance to all our actions. Each member of our team approached the project with a personal dedication.
The Offtherecord report made a significant impact in Polish media, triggering a cascade of comments, discussions, and press publications. May they bring the long-awaited change!
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