This project was for a design competition for JDORAW 22. The brief was to come up with a beauty product with a cause. I chose to do handmade soaps that would help raise money for people who were homeless/rough sleepers. The idea was to create a currency that the consumer bought into when purchasing the soap and could pass onto the person in need who could then trade it into a centre to get their basic needs met and further support. People are carrying less cash around with them today and by creating something that could be easily carried and given out and then traded for services was the main aim.

I looked into Maslow's Hierarchy of needs and how humans need certain basic requirements such as; food, shelter, warmth and water to then move further up the hierarchy to total 'self-fulfilment'. I feel that by only giving people one or two of the needs met would only perpetuate their state so by aiming to provide a full set of needs met would hopefully in turn begin the movement up the scale. The brand would aim to work with local authorities, governments and charities to further awareness and support.

Soap is a starting point for the proposed brand as is easy to make, source and sell. The Idea would to then further the range and the products effects when the brand created more awareness and revenue. The Soap is to use natural extracts, minerals and seeds to further the brands awareness of sustainable production and materials. I prototyped the soap using a premade mix with shea butter, olive oil, salts, Mustard and Poppy seeds as well at Titanium dioxide.

The Packaging was to be simple and something that can be recycled/re-used and made by hand and minimal machine work. There would be further emphasis on the artworks which would be by local artist and individuals coming through the system to create and nice creative following and exposure.

The brands main aims are to create a circular economy with the Token. It goes out to the customer, the customer passes onto those in need and then the person/s in need come to the centre, get help and support, and offered a part of the process to learn a new skill, make products and earn money. Then the Token goes out and the process continues.

Also looking into emerging trends such as 'Equilibrium Cities' and 'de-growth' alongside the current issues around austerity measures, social care funding cuts, drug and alcohol support funding cuts and the pressing mental health crisis that is among us I really strongly feel that we need to support individuals and groups suffering as a direct result of these and many other factors now before it gets worse. 

#thisisnotatrend

Thank you for looking through my work.