Space to Heal
Design & brand strategy for an organization tackling a silent, public-health crisis.
Radish Lab
Role:
Lead Strategist
Date:
2020-2021
Context
Wings works to break the cycle and heal the wounds of childhood sexual abuse by providing education, advocacy, and support to adult survivors, loved ones, providers, and communities.
Role
I led the design strategy and discovery process for Wings as they entered their next chapter—sharpening their service experience, brand, and digital channels.
At the time of my work with this client (2020–2021), I had worked on, and with, a series of other sensitive subject matters—ranging from gender-based violence in conflict areas to extreme poverty, and addiction.
However, this was one of the most difficult topics I had encountered and the statistics were startingly—1 in 4 women, 1 in 6 men, and 1 in 5 people are survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
In close partnership with the Wings team and my incredible Radish partners, Alayna, Bonnie, Jenna, Aaron, and Ale, and Anna, we were able to build understanding of the space and its many sensitivities, the organization's service experience, and their ambitious plans for growth.
I led the design strategy and discovery process for Wings, as they entered their next chapter—sharpening their service experience, brand, and digital channels.
At the time of my work with this client (2020–2021), I had worked on and with a series of other sensitive subject matters—ranging from gender-based violence in conflict areas to extreme poverty and addiction.
However, this was one of the most difficult topics I had encountered and the statistics were startingly—1 in 4 women, 1 in 6 men, and 1 in 5 people are survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
In close partnership with the Wings team and my incredible Radish partners, Alayna, Bonnie, Jenna, Aaron, and Ale, and Anna, we were able to build understanding of the space and its many sensitivities, the organization's service experience, and their ambitious plans for growth.
I led the design strategy and discovery process for Wings as they entered their next chapter—sharpening their service experience, brand, and digital channels.
At the time of my work with this client (2020–2021), I had worked on, and with, a series of other sensitive subject matters—ranging from gender-based violence in conflict areas to extreme poverty, and addiction.
However, this was one of the most difficult topics I had encountered and the statistics were startingly—1 in 4 women, 1 in 6 men, and 1 in 5 people are survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
In close partnership with the Wings team and my incredible Radish partners, Alayna, Bonnie, Jenna, Aaron, and Ale, and Anna, we were able to build understanding of the space and its many sensitivities, the organization's service experience, and their ambitious plans for growth.
I led the design strategy and discovery process for Wings as they entered their next chapter—sharpening their service experience, brand, and digital channels.
At the time of my work with this client (2020–2021), I had worked on, and with, a series of other sensitive subject matters—ranging from gender-based violence in conflict areas to extreme poverty, and addiction.
However, this was one of the most difficult topics I had encountered and the statistics were startingly—1 in 4 women, 1 in 6 men, and 1 in 5 people are survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
In close partnership with the Wings team and my incredible Radish partners, Alayna, Bonnie, Jenna, Aaron, and Ale, and Anna, we were able to build understanding of the space and its many sensitivities, the organization's service experience, and their ambitious plans for growth.
Rethinking
Discovery
Rethinking Discovery
Unlike my experience with other clients, Wings moved slowly and with an immense amount of intention, through the Discovery process. Standard design research exercises and "yes and" tactics were not going to be appropriate within this environment and this work required a lot of rethinking and reworking
I worked closely with their leadership and clinical staff to deliver this process with the utmost care. Me and my team spoke with a wide-range of stakeholders from Call Center specialists, clinical staff, survivors, and their loved ones and family members.
Delivering
Authenticity
Discovery unearthed common throughlines and key themes that informed organizational strategy and theory of change.
HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS
Serving Survivors & Loved Ones
We facilitate spaces, conversations, and connections for survivors of childhood sexual abuse to see, speak, heal, and thrive. We meet you where you are. Whether you’re unsure if you are a survivor, just identified as a survivor, or have already started your healing journey, our team works with each individual member to develop and deliver an experience tailored to each person’s unique needs.
HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
Building Compassionate Communities
We engage professionals, allies, and advocates to inform, educate, and be active participants in survivor’s healing journeys and community transformation. We believe that healing happens in community. We work with individuals and organizations within and across communities to raise awareness and support for the cause.
HEALTHY SOCIETIES
Catalyzing Culture Change
We generate a groundswell of awareness and action to end the stigma and shame surrounding being a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. We promote healing, resilience and post traumatic growth. It will take all of us to see the changes that we know adult survivors need. We engage a diverse range of stakeholders to share resources, raise awareness, and take action to catalyze this culture change.
HEALTHY FUTURES
Advocating for Systemic Change
We foster systems change by prioritizing healing CSA trauma as a human rights, victims rights, public health and social justice issue. We advocate and create the conditions necessary for systemic change to take hold. For too long, policy resistance has prevented survivors from accessing the quality care and community support necessary to heal from the trauma of childhood sexual abuse.
Discovery unearthed common throughlines and key themes that informed organizational strategy and theory of change.
HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS
Serving Survivors & Loved Ones
We facilitate spaces, conversations, and connections for survivors of childhood sexual abuse to see, speak, heal, and thrive. We meet you where you are. Whether you’re unsure if you are a survivor, just identified as a survivor, or have already started your healing journey, our team works with each individual member to develop and deliver an experience tailored to each person’s unique needs.
HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
Building Compassionate Communities
We engage professionals, allies, and advocates to inform, educate, and be active participants in survivor’s healing journeys and community transformation. We believe that healing happens in community. We work with individuals and organizations within and across communities to raise awareness and support for the cause.
HEALTHY SOCIETIES
Catalyzing Culture Change
We generate a groundswell of awareness and action to end the stigma and shame surrounding being a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. We promote healing, resilience and post traumatic growth. It will take all of us to see the changes that we know adult survivors need. We engage a diverse range of stakeholders to share resources, raise awareness, and take action to catalyze this culture change.
HEALTHY FUTURES
Advocating for Systemic Change
We foster systems change by prioritizing healing CSA trauma as a human rights, victims rights, public health and social justice issue. We advocate and create the conditions necessary for systemic change to take hold. For too long, policy resistance has prevented survivors from accessing the quality care and community support necessary to heal from the trauma of childhood sexual abuse.
Discovery unearthed common throughlines and key themes that informed organizational strategy and theory of change.
HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS
Serving Survivors & Loved Ones
We facilitate spaces, conversations, and connections for survivors of childhood sexual abuse to see, speak, heal, and thrive. We meet you where you are. Whether you’re unsure if you are a survivor, just identified as a survivor, or have already started your healing journey, our team works with each individual member to develop and deliver an experience tailored to each person’s unique needs.
HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
Building Compassionate Communities
We engage professionals, allies, and advocates to inform, educate, and be active participants in survivor’s healing journeys and community transformation. We believe that healing happens in community. We work with individuals and organizations within and across communities to raise awareness and support for the cause.
HEALTHY SOCIETIES
Catalyzing Culture Change
We generate a groundswell of awareness and action to end the stigma and shame surrounding being a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. We promote healing, resilience and post traumatic growth. It will take all of us to see the changes that we know adult survivors need. We engage a diverse range of stakeholders to share resources, raise awareness, and take action to catalyze this culture change.
HEALTHY FUTURES
Advocating for Systemic Change
We foster systems change by prioritizing healing CSA trauma as a human rights, victims rights, public health and social justice issue. We advocate and create the conditions necessary for systemic change to take hold. For too long, policy resistance has prevented survivors from accessing the quality care and community support necessary to heal from the trauma of childhood sexual abuse.
Discovery unearthed common throughlines and key themes that informed organizational strategy and theory of change.
HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS
Serving Survivors & Loved Ones
We facilitate spaces, conversations, and connections for survivors of childhood sexual abuse to see, speak, heal, and thrive. We meet you where you are. Whether you’re unsure if you are a survivor, just identified as a survivor, or have already started your healing journey, our team works with each individual member to develop and deliver an experience tailored to each person’s unique needs.
HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
Building Compassionate Communities
We engage professionals, allies, and advocates to inform, educate, and be active participants in survivor’s healing journeys and community transformation. We believe that healing happens in community. We work with individuals and organizations within and across communities to raise awareness and support for the cause.
HEALTHY SOCIETIES
Catalyzing Culture Change
We generate a groundswell of awareness and action to end the stigma and shame surrounding being a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. We promote healing, resilience and post traumatic growth. It will take all of us to see the changes that we know adult survivors need. We engage a diverse range of stakeholders to share resources, raise awareness, and take action to catalyze this culture change.
HEALTHY FUTURES
Advocating for Systemic Change
We foster systems change by prioritizing healing CSA trauma as a human rights, victims rights, public health and social justice issue. We advocate and create the conditions necessary for systemic change to take hold. For too long, policy resistance has prevented survivors from accessing the quality care and community support necessary to heal from the trauma of childhood sexual abuse.
Design
Principles
Three core design principles emerged, to act as anchors and guides through the design and delivery process.
Collaboration.
Our experiences should feel like a natural conversation with a trusted friend. From content and copy to interactions and pacing—each message, step, and design choice should aim to build trust and welcome people into the conversation, no matter their background or vantage point.
Choice.
Our experiences should exude a sense of "choice." Nothing should feel forced, loud, or overly energetic.
Safety.
Our experiences should provide a safe space both functionally and non-functionally—we are people-first, survivor-led, and every aspect our of design system should reinforce a sense of safety and peace of mind.
Three core design principles emerged, to act as anchors and guides through the design and delivery process.
Collaboration.
Our experiences should feel like a natural conversation with a trusted friend. From content and copy to interactions and pacing—each message, step, and design choice should aim to build trust and welcome people into the conversation, no matter their background or vantage point.
Choice.
Our experiences should exude a sense of "choice." Nothing should feel forced, loud, or overly energetic.
Safety.
Our experiences should provide a safe space both functionally and non-functionally—we are people-first, survivor-led, and every aspect our of design system should reinforce a sense of safety and peace of mind.
Three core design principles emerged, to act as anchors and guides through the design and delivery process.
Collaboration.
Our experiences should feel like a natural conversation with a trusted friend. From content and copy to interactions and pacing—each message, step, and design choice should aim to build trust and welcome people into the conversation, no matter their background or vantage point.
Choice.
Our experiences should exude a sense of "choice." Nothing should feel forced, loud, or overly energetic.
Safety.
Our experiences should provide a safe space both functionally and non-functionally—we are people-first, survivor-led, and every aspect our of design system should reinforce a sense of safety and peace of mind.
Three core design principles emerged, to act as anchors and guides through the design and delivery process.
Collaboration.
Our experiences should feel like a natural conversation with a trusted friend. From content and copy to interactions and pacing—each message, step, and design choice should aim to build trust and welcome people into the conversation, no matter their background or vantage point.
Choice.
Our experiences should exude a sense of "choice." Nothing should feel forced, loud, or overly energetic.
Safety.
Our experiences should provide a safe space both functionally and non-functionally—we are people-first, survivor-led, and every aspect our of design system should reinforce a sense of safety and peace of mind.
Reflections
from Wings
From day one, the project was approached with extreme care, compassion, creativity, and reverence for the needs of adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. This project exceeded our expectations and sets Wings on a powerful trajectory going forward.
The Team
Huge shououts and credit to my incredible team and partners in this work.
Jenna, Project Manager
Aaron, Strategist
Alayna, Lead Designer
Bonnie, Designer
Ale, Lead Developer
Ana, Developer
DYLAN DEMANSKI | BROOKLYN NY
DYLAN DEMANSKI | BROOKLYN NY
DYLAN DEMANSKI | BROOKLYN NY
DYLAN DEMANSKI | BROOKLYN NY