In your own view, what challenges does your project address?
Makeright provides a scalable model for prisons and other institutions. It has demonstrated efficacy by adapting to another country’s prison system through a knowledge-exchange project with the National Institute of Design and Sabarmati Central Jail. Its team is currently working with a number of UK prisons to train their trainers to run versions of Makeright, as well as with other UK universities to take designer-researchers and student graduate volunteers into UK prisons to transform lives through design training and support.
In how far do culture and creativity contribute to your project’s innovative and inclusive character?
Makeright develops strategic creative design education for prison inmates. This innovative cultural approach has a clear and direct impact on inmates as well as on individual student volunteers involved. Consistent feedback is that the connection between design education, prison and the creative industries sets this work apart from other prison courses and also other student “work experiences”. Makeright helps marginalised people develop positive attributes and life skills, influencing the way national and international partners think about inclusive prison industry education and employment.
Please describe the transformative potentials of your project and explain its innovative character.
Makeright teaches creative and analytical approaches by using design thinking to ‘turn on’ empathic and strategic skills. Over eight weeks, prisoners design and prototype anti-theft bags. Here, processes of engagement are as important as the products created, because inmates acquire practical, creative and relationship skills to prepare them for life outside prison. This “purposeful learning” is transformative because beyond bag design, by identifying business opportunities and refining priorities, inmates engage with self-reflection, self-organisation and ultimately self-employment issues.
Makeright is nominated for this year's NICE Award. All shortlisted projects can be seen here.