community Engagement

Reaching neighbors where they are.

Detroit Puppet Company already had an established relationship with its neighbors. (How could you miss the human-size puppets and spectacles in their newly renovated green space?) The community was excited to be involved but timid about language barriers.

We tapped into the client’s bi-lingual contacts to reach out. We translated promos and got the word out via email, social media and printed flyers. Participation was incentivized with complimentary dinner and childcare during the engagement session, with several translators present to ease communication barriers.

community Engagement

Through two in-person engagement sessions and one online survey, we gathered feedback about community needs and style preferences.

Lighting to make the space feel safer and color to feel vibrant and fun for children at play. We determined “likes” and “dislikes” through interactive exercises aided by translators, and we used this to shape the designs.

design outcome

Signage that celebrates the community with light, color and art.

In the final engagement we gave participants a chance to see the designs, which combined the Detroit Puppet Company brand, community input, and artwork created by Wes Taylor featuring DPC shadow puppets. Lighting became a key feature for the space as well as functionality for future performances and the community accessible vegetable garden. We played up the residential location of the performance space (just as we did for the logo) by creating house-like structures and shapes that are playful and vibrant.

Community Feedback

“I feel like the color splashes on the sidewalk would just give the space almost a magical/playful feel.”

Community Feedback

“I like this shade structure the best because I feel like it represents us the best. When people come and see this space they’ll know it’s apart of us!”

To hear community reactions like this is to know the process was a success.