dfrntpigeon
representing the unrepresented
dfrntpigeon is an apparel brand that is flipping the perception on youth homelessness one t-shirt at a time.
AKQA partnered with New Avenues to give this brand a voice. We worked closely with the youth in all aspects of development. They came up with the name, critiqued the manifesto, and picked the logo that inspired them.
After soft-launching the brand in Fall 2015, dfrntpigeon captured the attention of REDF, an organization that funds new ideas in employment. The initial grant helped the youth incorporate their brand as a business.
And in April 2016, dfrntpigeon artists and design mentors created a special collection for Design Week Portland featuring t-shirts made for popular Portland brands Lardo, Sizzle Pie, and Deschutes Brewery.
My role: I helped develop the brand's tone of voice, crafting the brand's manifesto and digital copy. I also assisted in facilitating the workshops with AKQA design mentors leading up to the Design Week Portland launch event.
Press:
AKQA + New Avenues for Youth = A Very Different Pigeon - Portland Mercury
Portland's Best Fashion Designed By Homeless Youth - Willamette Weekly
Agency: AKQA
Team:
Senior Copywriter – Tahirah Edwards-Byfield
Senior Art Director – Claiborne Colombo
Lead Designer + Photographer – Matt Firman
Design Mentor – Monica Douglas
Design Mentor – Samyr Souen
Design Mentor – Amalia Fredricksen
Designer + Photographer – Benjamin Parisot
Designer + Photographer – Joan Ot Comellas
Designer + Editor – Brian Aebi
Photographer - Johnny Le
Strategist + Photographer – Charley Zheng
Client Lead - Sunil Mohan
Group Creative Director - Ginny Golden
