Break the Stigma is a comprehensive harm reduction educational campaign combining physical and digital touch-points to reduce stigma and raise awareness among students and the general public. Funded through a Smart and Healthy Cities grant, the project featured a pop-up booth with environmental signage, interactive components, and branded merchandise, alongside a coordinated social media campaign, educational website, and digital game—creating a cohesive experience that meets people where they are with compassion and practical tools.
Through our visit to The Everywhere Project, we gained crucial insights that shaped our design approach. We learned that 80% of overdoses occur in the home, and clean supplies increase the likelihood of seeking treatment by 4×, highlighting the need for accessible education and resources in everyday spaces. Most importantly, we observed that positive, approachable materials combat stigma far more effectively than intimidating ones. During our visit, we also assembled safe use kits containing harm reduction supplies for distribution in Philadelphia, connecting our design work directly to community-based practice.
We mapped the complex network of stakeholders to understand how information flows through the community and identify opportunities for intervention.
To understand our diverse student audience, we developed three personas representing a spectrum of perspectives on substance use and harm reduction— from supportive advocates to skeptical opponents. Each persona helped us identify specific design opportunities throughout the user journey.
