PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Lack of access to period products has discriminatory impacts on the livelihoods of people who menstruate. According to Talk Poverty, Arkansas’ poverty rate is one of the highest in the nation, ranking 47 overall, and 48 for children experiencing poverty. Young girls, students, people of color, undocumented immigrants, trans men, and non-binary folx are the most vulnerable populations experiencing period poverty. Current product shortages caused by COVID-19 and the global supply chain are making period poverty worse. To reduce period poverty in our community, we chose kindness.

The Kind Project uses design and public spaces to normalize inclusive conversations on menstruation and increase access to period products in the NWA community and beyond in the most dignifying ways.
With Hello Departures, the University of Arkansas' School of Art students, and the Fayetteville Public Library, we reimagined the cold and unintuitive coin-operated period products dispenser for a more inclusive and accessible dispenser for all menstruating folx.

This project additionally provided more than a year of period products, including Kind period kits, sustainable menstrual cups, long-lasting period underwear in inclusive sizes as well as organic tampons, liners, and pads free of dioxins, pesticides, and toxins.

PROJECT INFORMATION

Entry Type: Single Entry

Channel: Product

Primary Role of the Designer: Designer as change agent

Client Relationship: An in-house on-going relationship

Intention of the Project: Re-launch, redesign, or update of an existing product, service or program

Development Budget: Pro bono

Production/Execution Budget: $30,001 - $100,000

Source of Funding: Other (if other, please explain) Financial support provided by Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation and Walmart

Typefaces: Circe and Calyces

Paper: French Paper

Materials: Plexiglass, vinyl, recycled canvas

CREDIT INFORMATION

Creative Director: Dina Benbrahim

Art Director:

Designers: Aimsley McDaniel, Blaise Keasler, Erin Enmark, Haley Tucker, Jaret Sites, Lizzie Cleveland, Stacey Trucks, Melissa Loney, Nick Hobbs

Researchers: Dina Benbrahim, Kayla Spear

Developers:

Copywriter: Aimsley McDaniel, Blaise Keasler, Erin Enmark, Haley Tucker, Jaret Sites, Lizzie Cleveland, Stacey Trucks, Melissa Loney, Nick Hobbs

Illustrator:

Photographer: Kari Bjorn

Printer: RoArk Group

Producer:

Other Credits: Vincent Edwards, University of Arkansas' School of Art's Director of Technology, leading the product design with the School of Art's Fabrication Students; Sam Palmer, Director of Facilities and Sustainability at Fayetteville Public Library, co-designer

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