Project Details
Perfect provided project management, graphic design, copywriting, web development and print services for Penn SP2's Top 10 initiative.
Fulfilling its Mission
The University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2) educates students who want to take an active role in social policy, social justice, social work, nonprofit leadership and social research. As one of the leading higher-education schools of its kind, SP2 wanted to launch a multi-modal program in which experts from the School of Social Policy & Practice analyze and address some of the most crucial social justice and policy issues in our nation. The mission of the initiative, which is known as the SP2 Penn Top 10 Social Justice & Policy Issues for the 2016 Presidential Election, is to educate, enlighten, and empower a diverse audience of voters and policymakers from all walks of life.
Timing for the initiative was crucial, as SP2 wanted the program launched in plenty of time to inform the public prior to the election in November.
Learning About the Project
Initially, SP2 approached Perfect about printing a handout that could be used to inform delegates, alumni and the general population about the SP2 Penn Top 10. The handout would consist of 10 position papers written by SP2 faculty. The papers would need to be edited into digestible articles and combined with a visual aesthetic to communicate the main points of each essay to a mostly uninformed audience. The handout was intended to be visually appealing, heavy on imagery and full of information.
In addition to the handout, SP2 wanted a “Digital Book” (Interactive PDF) to be hosted on an existing website for easy access for people who may not receive a printed copy. This would also be something that would be marketed digitally, with the intent of spreading the message and potentially raising capital for the school.
Suggesting a Broader Solution
Based on SP2’s project objectives, Perfect recommended a workbook that would include 10 tabs, creating a section for each topic. Content would include a shortened position paper, information about the author(s), critical information about the topic and recommendations to help address the issue. Instead of a digital book, we suggested creating a website dedicated to the initiative. We also proposed developing a complete visual identity for the initiative and designing a promotional brochure to announce the program. We believed that if the initiative was successful, SP2 could convert the “temporary” program focused on one election to a long-standing web presence where SP2 could highlight pressing social justice and policy issues in the future.
- Developing the Assets
SP2 embraced our suggestions. Perfect set about working with the SP2 Penn Top 10 project team to create the materials over a nearly six-month period. Beginning with the development of the initiative’s visual identity, we helped develop an SP2 Penn Top 10 logo, a direct mail brochure promoting the initiative, a promotional landing page to announce the kickoff, an interactive full website to unveil content on each topic and the SP2 Penn Top 10 workbook. Perfect provided SP2 with project management, graphic design, copyediting, web development, printing and mail services.
- A Successful Campaign
From its first event in May 2016 dealing with the issue of Homelessness, the SP2 Penn Top 10 Social Justice & Policy Issues for the 2016 Presidential Election initiative garnered attention and grew beyond all initial expectations. Visitors have engaged with the website by viewing videos, posting comments and voting for the most pressing social issue. SP2 ordered another print run of the SP2 Penn Top 10 workbook as well. The project team is also now considering keeping the initiative going beyond the 2016 election.