Stuff:
a self-initiated brief.
In the UK alone there’s an estimate of 3 million known hoarders. Due to the shame and embarrassment their homes bring them and their families, the majority live in silence and fail to seek support. In May 2013, Hoarding was identified as its own disorder, rather than a variation of OCD. Because of this advancement, scientists are trying to understand this mental disorder more, one which is known to be brought on from either childhood distress or side effects of other mental health conditions (e.g. Depression/ bipolar or anxiety). Currently the only solution is CBT, which can be accessed for free through the NHS but with a very long waiting list as a subsequence. Not only this, many hoarders don't realise they have a problem. To them these actions are normal and need to be made carefully aware of otherwise and that there is help.
Who is stuff?
stuff is a service which offers a platform for open conversations on hoarding, mental health, and everything in-between. They aim to provide support for those suffering and, for those who’re supporting them too. So, no matter who they are, what they know (or don’t know), stuff is there to have a chat, and learn together.
stuff have partnered with Spotify, Mind and Headspace to provide an innovative approach to mental health support and a new solution to Hoarding, without the sterile attitude.
Why the name stuff?
The word stuff simply refers to either the objects and the difficulty to identify specific items within them. Or the term used to describe something in a relaxed, friendly manner.
The Partnership
By partnering with Mind, Spotify and Headspace, stuff will hopefully create a ‘big chat’ through social media, word of mouth and advertisement. The more ways we can talk about it, the more accessible it becomes, and the bigger the discussion will grow. Hence our four-step process: learn, listen, reflect, talk/support.
Brand Identity:
By making the U shape from the logo to look like a smile/mouth, the action of talking, especially between one or more people may be implied. The more we talk about our problems, the happier we feel. Although we may seem happy on the outside, bottling it up can stop us from truly smiling and feeling complete.
For the colour palette, black and white are used as the primary colours for both backgrounds and typefaces. While the yellow highlights stuff against other objects and sparks off conversations between the medium and receiver.
The last three colours (blue, green and orange) are inspired by the partners primary colours. This makes it easier for the receiver to connect stuff to their partners and its purpose.
Tone of Voice
stuff's tone of voice is very personal. Suffering with Hoarding Disorder doesn’t make you weird, dirty or a patient. It makes you a human, who needs to talk. Instead of presenting a Hoarders as people who acquire items, we showcase their stories and voices. Nothing is filtered or dramatised, just raw and honest.
Brand Guidelines
In order to create conversations and harmony with design, I decided to create a set of guidelines which suggests how with good design, people will become more engaged and trust the service, encouraging users to talk.
Therefore, with each page the holder is able to flip the mouth over it to fully understand it’s content, implying how the further they go through the booklet, the bigger the mouth will get (due to the width) and thus be more capable of encouraging discussion.
I decided to not use any photography within my designs and instead focus on the copy as the service’s purpose is to talk and create conversations from others (real people) and their verbal stories. This would avoid any judgement of their actions and what they initially see.
These guidelines advise designers to avoid over crowding pages and instead give the work/graphics space to breathe. This allows those suffering (or supporting someone who is suffering) to feel the same motion of a clearer mindset. In a time where everything may feel claustrophobic and tight, stuff is able to offer them clarity - simply from it’s visual language.
Website
The most important part of this service is the website. It is the central hub for all conversations and provides a platform for all three companies to collaborate together. Once again I went for a clear and well structured layout, allowing lots of empty space to make the information less daunting and overwhelming.
Posters/campaign material
The copy used for these posters came quite naturally as I was simply expressing how I have felt living with someone who is a hoarder, and what others have said online.
The posters have three main goals:
> To grab peoples attention and wonder what these raw statements may be linked to.
> To educate viewers on the importance of finding support and talking about it.
> And lastly, a call to action to create a big chat either via social media or the website.
Support Pack
After producing all of the visual identity and touch points for those who are suffering with Hoarding Disorder, and providing information to everyone who wishes to learn, I thought ‘who’s there for those helping those suffering?’.
From first hand experience I know exactly how upsetting and stressful the process can be, especially when the subject doesn’t want to admit to their tendencies. That is why I’ve created a support pack giving supporters advice and comfort in a time where they feel all alone.
The pack will be small so that it is discrete, easy to hide and recyclable - while also not potentially making too much of an impact to the hoard should it be added to it.
The items included in the pack are:
> A guide on what to avoid, giving advise to those who may feel clueless and fearful to cause arguments.
> An Ice Breaker Form. From my research I found this form online (giving those who do not know how to communicate how they’re feeling or what has been happening to GPs) yet felt it was rather poorly designed with a lack of care.
> A postcard to leave in local cafés or businesses, and a postcard to place through their suffers letter box to ease the conversation and let them know that they’re there to listen.
> A booklet describing my home and the stories that go with certain parts of the house. Although previously stated above, I decided to use the imagery taken from my Mums home and place it in a booklet to let supporters know that they’re not alone. Hopefully this will give them some comfort and not affect their judgements as they’re already aware of their friend/family members true personality.
> A stress relief booklet with suggestions on how to give yourself some relaxation through rewarding yourself with discounts from local businesses. The copy used suggests a chat between stuff and the reader, once again making them feel less alone.
> Lastly, a mini chocolate bar for when life is getting a little to stressful and you just need a minute of bliss.
Thank you for viewing!
