Lunch Bunch with Girls Prep

I recently visited Girls Prep Lower East Side Middle School with my good friend and fellow designer Chris Williams to explain graphic design to about 20 girls, ages 10-13 in the space of a lunch break. Tall order!

We were invited by Kaitlyn Hamilton, a learning specialist, to be a part of “Lunch Bunch,” which exposes students to a diverse array of career opportunities they might not otherwise have exposure to. Not only does it give them a chance to learn about what we do, but it also teaches them a skill they can use now or, at the very least, provide them with a roadmap for working toward a career in a similar industry.

We decided to spend the majority of our time in an exercise to brand Lunch Bunch. We obviously didn’t have time to go through an entire branding process, but thought it would be good to engage the girls in a brainstorming discussion.

It was amazing to see them engaged in a process to examine what Lunch Bunch is, who they are as girls, and how the two come together. By asking the right questions, it didn’t take long for the girls to dive into a discussion about who they are as girls, and as Lunch Bunch participants. Their animated replies and eagerness for introspection was yet another reminder that the idea of branding and its realization through design extend far beyond corporate walls.

Many many thanks to Girls Prep Middle School, Kaitlyn Hamilton and all the rest of the faculty. Chris and I were honored to be there!