The Overview
When we look to the world, we think about building the foundation for those that will arrive after us. Boys To Men cultivates the potential in every boy. We believe every child is owed a positive role model who can help them come into their own. Our world has changed, and children encounter the toxicity of the virtual sphere every day. We are the respite from these scary moments. We must desire better for them, and it all begins with a mentor. Boys To Men pays it forward to each generation ahead of us. No matter their background, we make sure that no boys are left behind, and that is why we are Boys To Men.
The Problem
Along with the growth of the internet, came toxic spheres where groups with dangerous ideologies gather. These groups target young boys/teens who lack support systems, in a bid to brainwash them. These boys are taught to become dependent on the group, act with aggression, enact violence, repress emotions, and exclude other races or sexes.
Definition:
Manosphere = The Manosphere is an umbrella term for the interconnected misogynistic groups that have developed online. This includes but is not limited to: Incels (involuntary celibates), PUA (pick up artists), men’s right activists, MGTOW (Men Going Their Own Way), and father’s rights groups.
The Solution
I created the Boys To Men mobile journal app in order to help boys/teens get in touch with their emotions, thoughts, and learn to communicate with one another. Not only will writing encourage their creativity, but also help cultivate friendships, connections, and empathy.
Boys To Men Case Study
Moodboard + Color Palette + Typography
Initial Moodboard to get a sense of the colors. I wanted it to be playful and later moved onto a darker tone.
Finalized Color Palette.
Typography
Boys To Men Posters
These posters will be posted around cities where Boys To Men operate. Each image shows a supportive figure to the boy, whether a mentor or friend. The first poster is a subtle nod to the Boys To Men logo, and the colors of the design reflect the aesthetic of the app.
Guerilla Advertising
For the innovative part of Boys To Men's campaign, I wanted something that would really stand out and get peoples attention. These paper mache sculptures will be handcrafted by boys under the Boys To Men mentorship, using their own poems, stories, and writings. These figures are posed around the city as if they were in the middle of some action, or as if they were about to take action. This creates an open dialogue between the neighborhood and the boys, as they read the stories, share their interaction on social media, or find the website through the merchandise that the figures are wearing.
Boys To Men App
When I first began this project, I found myself feeling stumped. How could I create a space where boys could feel safe, nurture friendships, work on a healthy sense of self and boundaries, get creative, and learn? That was a lot to ask for. I began to think back on open dialogue and how toxic groups, such as the Manosphere, would reach out to boys via gaming spaces or chatrooms. I also thought back to my childhood and others childhoods, and how they would openly express themselves through written form, regardless of gender. Thus I created the Boys To Men app where boys can get in touch with their emotions, talk in a safe space without judgement, and share their creativity. The app allows boys to customize their own journals, and access the journals of their peers or mentors. They could learn to write stories, healthy critiquing, and reading comprehension, which would help bridge the gap between education and future crime rates, It would also allow them to express their feelings and see that it can be masculine to also talk about internal struggles with other men, and allow boys to gain understanding and confidence in themselves. As the boys develop new healthy coping mechanisms through writing, they will be better prepared in the future as they grow into adulthood, and as they meet friends and mentors, they could develop long lasting friendships as well.
Boys To Men App Stills
Log In
Pick A Font
Your Journals
Custom Journal Templates
Journal Customization
Writing An Entry
Share Function
Hamburger Menu
Today's Feed
Friend's Profile
Friend's Journal
Comment Section
Boys To Men App Interaction
Log in and journal creation
Today's Feed
Boys can share their journal with a friend
Boys can share their journal with their feed
Outcome + Reflections + Next Steps
Although this project was rough at some points due to deadlines and the massive undertaking of the variety of app interactions, I'm proud with how this project came out. I strongly believe this would help boys learn to get in touch with their emotions and learn how to lean on others. If they are supported at an early stage in life, these boys could grow up with healthy values and emotional maturity that they could pass on to their own kids, the people around them, and, if they so choose, a protégé of their own. By positively influencing one boy at a time, we could change the world for the better.
If I had to work on this project in the future, I think I would create more innovative/ guerilla imagery and flesh out the app even further. I'm not sure where my next steps would be, but I would love to work on other projects where I could make a bigger impact in the world.
