our story
In December 2019, Madison Larmeu and I co-founded LET IT OUT, an art therapy-inspired service to promote art as a way for one to maintain health and wellbeing. We started thinking of designing a physical space for a community, and interactive workshops.
In February 2020, COVID-19 paused the world, as well as our plan. However, it was an opportunity for us to UNLEARN, RETHINK, and REDESIGN the LET IT OUT experience. Being able to adapt and actively listening to other mentors, we came up with LET IT OUT care box.
In October 2020, we sent out the boxes, conducted virtual workshops for a small number of participants, and actively collected their works and “quarantine” stories.
our intentions
We sat down and have conversations with friends and community members. We talked about childhood and how art has been a way to express thoughts and feelings.
We were very happy to be able cultivate conversations through prompting and art-making.
Our intention is to not creating that “has never seen before”, but we aim to use the tools that are out there, apply research and together cultivate the at-home experience through out product design, and attention-to-detail elements in the box.
impacts
- We were able to connect others with their special ones through art & conversations during isolation.
- We saw smiles, laughs, and felt happiness from friends, and community members.
- We collected memories that are forever meaningful to us.
- We got money donation from some participants and in returns, we used the fund to buy 200 beanies to donate to Vogel Alcove – an organization offering a broad array of therapeutic services for children who are experiencing homelessness during Covid Winter 2020.
challenges
- It was significant challenging as we had very low budget to afford all packagings. We were able to reduce the cost by printing labels and assembling art supplies by ourselves.
- The box printing process was a little bit challenging as COVID-19 didn’t allow us more options from out-of-country vendors. However, we were happy to partner with US-based company to print with rush deadlines.
- COVID-19 and planning everything virtual wasn’t fun but we were very happy through the process. We are grateful that challenges taught us more.
a look inside
virtual exhibition
By December 2020, we curated a virtual exhibition with the works and stories of our participants.
the experience design
We curated different art materials, and art-therapy inspired prompts. We sent out to the participants and suggested ways for them to host their own art-making experience with loved ones. After that, with consent, we collected the artworks and curated an art exhibition.
Process
There were a lot of planning from branding, packaging design and supplying.
Branding
Packaging & Art Materials
Branding
Based on our purpose of the project to support, and raise awareness on Mental
Health. Our main color will be GREENERY PANTONE 15-0343.
The reasons why we chose green because:
Green conveys the idea of freshness, self-acceptance, optimism, energy.
Green is calm, and exciting.
Green ribbon is Mental Health Awareness symbol
Green is Call to Action
Packaging & Art Materials
We wanted very simple box design with minimal outside look. However, the flip is designed with a colorable illustration because we imagined a participatory activity that everyone can do so that we can curate a brand image while spreading positivity – “YOU ARE LOVED”.
The process of this design is a little challenging due to our budget. However, we were able to find good vendor. After several adjustments, we were very please with our boxes. 