The first time Derrick entered his thesis project, 'Masculinity is a Prison' campaign, for the SoGood Design Awards in 2018 he did not win. Believing in his work and the importance of the cause, Derrick refined his project and re-submitted it in 2020, winning the second time around.    

 

 

My work being recognized showed me that purposeful work created with dedication and hard work pays off! When I re-submitted the MIAP campaign in 2020, I made adjustments to the design, developed apparel and even launched an Instagram handle for the project (@imprisonnomore). This experience taught me to push boundaries, never give up and to be more thoughtful about my work and what I was working to achieve. 

 

 

The MIAP campaign is about young adult men of colour facing difficulties in the areas of mental health and well-being. Using different media to address an ongoing and deep-rooted stigma, especially with minorities, the campaign features a video where a group of hand-picked participants anonymously start this conversation by sharing their experiences, an interactive pills installation and a pocket handbook. 

 

If given a chance, today I would feature a few more voices by conducting more interviews and probably partner with a charity. I am also curious to know what the project would be like if the participants weren't anonymous, showing ourselves, sharing our vulnerabilities and owning our truths.

 

 

For me, designing for social good means utilizing the design tools, methods, processes, technologies, history and skills taught to us to recognize and fill the gaps in society with an intention to facilitate progress. The purpose is to provide information, serve the community and help create a positive social change for the betterment of our world at large, no matter how big or small an immediate impact it has.

 

 

As we evolve into almost an entirely new world, I would like to see the Canadian design industry amend the broken and unrealistic hiring system by lowering the experience level required for entry level jobs, specifically for junior designer positions. It is quite distressing for a recent graduate seeking security and stability in their chosen career. Overall transparency with job postings and wages would be a refreshing change. I also hope, we, as an industry, can introduce more initiatives for immigrants and international students who take a courageous leap of faith moving to Canada to seek equal opportunities.