INSIST. Campaign

Describe your idea and concept of your work in relation to the festival outlines:

INSIST. is a hypothetical organization created by our project to help people in the community understand that they have the right to insist on a receipt no matter where they spend their hard earned money. We believe that they should ask for their receipt to avoid the financial hardships that are possible without paper documentation of payment such as evictions, and duplicated payements. We believe that this will help those already in debt help get back on their feet faster and those who are not in debt avoid falling into it. We believe that people should strive to remain free and not fall into the shackles of debt.

What kind of communication approach do you use?

INSIST. utilizes several communication channels. For the consumer we communicate with them through tailored advertisements that are place strategically on subway cars and buses in areas of high risk and at point of sale checkout stations. With these advertisements the viewer will know where to pick up the Receipt Keeper box at the nearest trustworthy location to them for example community centers, churches, and community banks. In the box is a promotional t-shirt with a simple but proud message of insist that they can share with others. For partnering businesses they will receive a letter of why and how they can partner with INSIST. Promotional stickers for the point of sale and entrance to the business. This allows for the INSIST message to reach individuals and the business owners and employees. Insist targets each party with a universal message of the importance of receipts as well as a more tailored message to both the customer and the employee.

What are in your opinion concrete benefits to the society because of your communication?

INSIST. At the core is a message of empowerment. We want the public to feel that they have a sense of control over their finances by doing something as simple as insisting on their receipt. It may begin with a receipt and its keeper but it ends with a chance for less debt and regained financial security. As for businesses INSIST helps establish a higher level of mutual respect and professionalism between the customers and the employees.

What did you personally learn from creating your submitted work?

Between creating INSIST and the poverty simulation that we experienced to better understand our audience I feel that I have learned a great deal about what it means to design for good. Experiencing the frustrations and effects of that kind of situation that so many people are in was eye opening. The poverty simulation really made this project hit really close to home. We were no longer designing this Receipt Keeper for people we've never met before with assumptions of what their situations must be like but rather we were designing for ourselves having experienced the situation firsthand.

While working on INSIST I realized more than ever the importance of being careful and thoughtful of what kind of copy you use on a project for an assumed group of people. Considering we were designing primarily for the impoverished or unfortunate people who are currently struggling to manage their finances better and get out of the chains of debt or those who are just trying to stay on track we did not want to say, or imply anything to make these people feel like they were less than they were. We wanted to build these people up.

While working on INSIST I realized that our project could fill a need but also serve a higher purpose. INSIST was created to better manage your finances by insisting on your right to a receipt but the message extends past that. It may start with a insisting on your right to a receipt but also influence people to insist on other things in their lives that they might desire but feel that they were not capable to attaining like a higher education or to escape a bad situation.

Why is your work, GOOD communication WORK?

INSIST is good communication work because we utilize channels that appeal to consumers and businesses to successfully initiate positive change. Not only through better financial management and debt reduction but to strengthen the communities those businesses and individuals exist in as a whole through shared respect and cooperation.

Where and how do you intent do implement your work?

INSIST. utilizes several communication channels. For the consumer we communicate with them through tailored advertisements that are place strategically on subway cars and buses in areas of high risk. With these advertisements the viewer will know where to pick up the Receipt Keeper box at the nearest location to them.

Did your intervention had an effect on other Media. If yes, describe the effect? (Has other media reported on it- how? Were you able to change other media with your work- how?)

This project has not been released to the media outside of our portfolio's showcasing it on Behance.com in which the Behance curated gallery Student Show selected to showcase it because it "promoted new thinking".