DESIGNED CONVERSATION

Designed Conversation represents a dynamic dialogue between Savannah College of Art and Design students and clients of Growing Hope of Union Mission in Savannah, GA. Union Mission aims to elevate the quality of life of Savannah's homeless through housing, job training, counseling and health care. Growing Hope, the arts and crafts cooperative within Union Mission, is a unique program that addresses the need for creative expression in this undeserved population. Our goal is to create sustainable bedding solutions for people in non-traditional living situations. We address the needs of three specific demographics within Union Mission: those sleeping on the street, those sleeping in a shelter, and those living in a transitional housing.

Through regular conversations at the shelter, our clients expressed their needs for comfort, security and privacy, which we continuously integrated into our design solutions. We embrace a definition of sustainability that looks beyond the green movement to incorporate a vision of socially constructive practice. Using readily accessible materials and an ease of construction, we created functional items that can be replicated by clients within the Growing Hope studios. In giving the design blueprints to Growing Hope and posting them on the internet, we aim to give our products a life in the community beyond ICFF.