In direct response, I co-founded a social enterprise called Settle, which designs & delivers support to young people who have been homeless and are now moving into their first home.
As well as being one of the first support workers, I was Settle’s Service Designer – creating the brand, resources and curriculum. Turned off by the drab world of hostels, my ethos for Settle’s design became ‘vulnerable people deserve beautiful things’.
So much of what service users come into contact with is ugly and confusing: good design is seen as a luxury.
However, the award-winning design of Settle’s programmes was reflected in our impact. This affirmed to me the real value of design: when you put effort into resources being intuitive and interactions empowering, people understand and respond to that investment.
As well as being one of the first support workers, I was Settle’s Service Designer – creating the brand, resources and curriculum. Turned off by the drab world of hostels, my ethos for Settle’s design became ‘vulnerable people deserve beautiful things’.
So much of what service users come into contact with is ugly and confusing: good design is seen as a luxury.
However, the award-winning design of Settle’s programmes was reflected in our impact. This affirmed to me the real value of design: when you put effort into resources being intuitive and interactions empowering, people understand and respond to that investment.