- Ethics Program
Posters over lectures
This poster series is meant to ‘nudge’ students, especially in the junior classes, and encourage them to seek help.
The initiative is a reminder to call out and discuss topics students shrug their shoulders to or simply ignore. I recognised a reluctance among my Grade 11 & 12th-Grade peers to approach and discuss topics like vaping, ethics, integrity, cyber bullying and healthy habits.
As part of a broader school program, I adopted this subtle yet strategic approach and launched an initiative titled ‘Ethics Program’ to plant hook thoughts that help the viewer make the right choices as a student, peer, friend and individual.
Instead of forcing direct peer-to-peer discussions, I took to posters as a tool for behavioural nudging. This method aimed to gently influence thinking and behaviour in the younger age groups on the important aspects of self-respect, bullying etc. These posters all had a helpline or an email the students could use which would enable the gentler souls to reach out for help, instead of direct confrontation or the risk of ridicule, they may otherwise anticipate from their classmates.
Location of these posters was also key
I chose to hang them in zones where students tend to linger: around staircases, elevators and paths with space pockets. It was sure to grab their eyeballs and organically start a conversation.
When you walk down a hallway, a visually appealing poster will likely make you pause and notice. School children are receptive to absorbing organic content they see around them, compared to being given a lecture, literally.
Show. Don’t tell goes a long way in leaving an imprint on young minds.
The ongoing campaign has been well-received. The posters are flexibly designed to accommodate timely, newer ideas. There is room to keep the dialogue quirky and creative for fellow schoolmates to look forward to. The series is a hard-hitting and valid round-up on acceptable peer ethics and good habits carried out in a digestible format.
At the beginning I zoomed into topics including Bullying, Finding your own identity over conforming, Cyberbullying, Substance Abuse and Fostering Positive Relationships among Kids for the project.
- HOW I APPROACHED THE PROJECT
