Through SCAD SERVE, our studio partnered with the Savannah-Chatham county Board of Education Police Department to explore how safety communication could feel clearer, more approachable, and more human for students and families. Rather than relying on authority-driven visuals, the project focused on building recognition, comfort, and trust through intentional design.

I served as Head of the Mascot Team, leading the development of a character system that made messaging engaging without minimizing the seriousness of the information. The goal was to reduce intimidation while preserving clarity, encouraging students to pay attention, remember procedures, and feel supported rather than alarmed.

Our team worked directly with department leadership to understand tone boundaries, audience concerns, and real-world implementation. After iterative critique and refinement, three students, including myself, presented the final proposal to the Board and police representatives, translating creative decisions into strategic reasoning and community impact.

This project reshaped my understanding of public-facing design. Effective communication is not just about visibility; it is about perception, and perception determines whether information is trusted, ignored, or remembered.