Unlike some food, design can be good for you and still be appealing and tasty. Take The Street Store, for instance. I was recently introduced to this ‘franchise’ of pop-up stores for the homeless through a friend’s Facebook post. I was duly impressed by their charitable mission, but it was their elegant, smart and utilitarian design that really wowed me. The use of simple, bold graphics on cardboard is both understated and powerful at the same time. It is helpful, and enticing without being overbearing or preachy. Images of all kinds of needy people weeping for joy as they find the perfect fit in a pair of shoes reinforce the message that this is about helping people.
Anyone interested in hosting a Street Store event can apply through their website thestreetstore.org and follow seven simple steps to change the life of the needy for the better. Included are five posters with instructions on how to use them:
My personal favorite is the poster which functions as a hanger for clothes, but all have the same simplicity and powerful impact.
