Billboard at dusk reading Prison population has grown 500% since 1973, for The Sentencing Project.

The Sentencing Project – 50 Years and a Wake Up

Client: The Sentencing Project

Branding

Branding

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Social Media Campaign

Social Media Campaign

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Overview

The The Sentencing Project (TSP) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization established in 1986 in Washington, D.C., operating as a research and advocacy hub to foster a just and effective criminal justice system. Creative Cycle collaborated with TSP for their 50 Years and a Wake-Up campaign. This campaign aimed to raise awareness of the mass incarceration crisis and its profound impact on the U.S. population over the past half-century, particularly emphasizing its repercussions within the Black community. Moreover, the campaign aimed to raise awareness about more effective crime prevention strategies in our nation.

Team

Portrait of Carlos Murguia

Co-Creative Director

Carlos Murguia

Portrait of Jose Caicedo

Co-Creative Director

Jose Caicedo

Art Director

Barbara Condemarín

Deliverables

Brandguide

Social Media Posts

01

Challenge

Our task was to create a bold identity for the campaign, drawing on the visual elements of the TSP brand. We needed to evoke a sense of strength, courage, and progress in the campaign identity, which required a striking and memorable design capable of conveying the urgency and importance of the cause. Our challenge was to communicate the experience of individuals, families, and communities affected by the mass incarceration crisis with seriousness and solemnity. It was essential to convey the gravity of the situation without dehumanizing the narrative. Additionally, we had to ensure the alignment between the campaign identity and the TSP brand values and mission, which required a deep understanding of its brand and objectives. Despite these challenges, we committed to creating a gravitas and meaningful identity. 

01

Challenge

Our task was to create a bold identity for the campaign, drawing on the visual elements of the TSP brand. We needed to evoke a sense of strength, courage, and progress in the campaign identity, which required a striking and memorable design capable of conveying the urgency and importance of the cause. Our challenge was to communicate the experience of individuals, families, and communities affected by the mass incarceration crisis with seriousness and solemnity. It was essential to convey the gravity of the situation without dehumanizing the narrative. Additionally, we had to ensure the alignment between the campaign identity and the TSP brand values and mission, which required a deep understanding of its brand and objectives. Despite these challenges, we committed to creating a gravitas and meaningful identity. 

Two deep green 50 Years and a Wake Up event flyers for Montana and Texas with speaker portraits.

Event flyers take the campaign into local conversations, with speakers and details in the same deep green.

02

Solution

Furthermore, we worked on a design approach that strategically incorporated negative space, which we considered a meaningful resource to convey the message of this campaign.

This design concept aspired to create an aesthetically appealing visual while crafting a narrative that evokes a sense of fragmentation and incompleteness.

02

Solution

Furthermore, we worked on a design approach that strategically incorporated negative space, which we considered a meaningful resource to convey the message of this campaign.

This design concept aspired to create an aesthetically appealing visual while crafting a narrative that evokes a sense of fragmentation and incompleteness.

Wall-mounted digital screen with an eye icon and a line about people under criminal legal supervision.
Wall-mounted digital screen with an eye icon and a line about people under criminal legal supervision.

On screen we gave one statistic the whole surface, which is how the campaign makes its case.

03

Impact

After receiving approval for the campaign design, we continued our collaboration with TSP, extending our efforts to develop a comprehensive set of branded assets. We carefully designed these assets with the primary goal of effectively communicating the narrative of the campaign. This task involved creating visually appealing and informative materials to raise community awareness and advocate for change.

03

Impact

After receiving approval for the campaign design, we continued our collaboration with TSP, extending our efforts to develop a comprehensive set of branded assets. We carefully designed these assets with the primary goal of effectively communicating the narrative of the campaign. This task involved creating visually appealing and informative materials to raise community awareness and advocate for change.

Green letterpress 50 Years and a Wake Up logo on white paper against a dark teal background.

The campaign lockup sets the 50 inside brackets, printed here in green on uncoated stock.

Phone and social cards showing campaign stories and statistics on a light blue background.

Social assets carry the campaign's research into stories and posts without losing the look.

More projects

More projects

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01

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We typically handle up to two active requests at a time, with new ones queued as they’re completed. Most deliverables are turned around within 48–72 hours, depending on complexity.

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04

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05

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Let's talk

hello@creativecycle.io

2303 Cavendish Drive, Alexandria, VA 22308

Virginia

Make it happen

Let's talk

hello@creativecycle.io

2303 Cavendish Drive, Alexandria, VA 22308

Virginia

Make it happen

Let's talk

hello@creativecycle.io

2303 Cavendish Drive, Alexandria, VA 22308

Virginia

Make it happen