Reducing graffiti vandalism
The London borough of Brent needed fresh approaches to tackle high levels of graffiti vandalism, so Uscreates approached the issue by turning the problem on its head, and achieved a 25% reduction in graffiti vandalism.
“Uscreates designed an innovative consultation for Brent Council’s Graffiti Partnership Board. They used a RANTBOX, in which young people gave their views about graffiti and tagging. We used those views and other consultation responses in an interactive policy co-design event. The resulting thinking, actions and ideas has shaped Brent’s pioneering approach to tackling graffiti. We highly recommend Uscreates to other authorities. They bring a fresh approach to consultation and policy design which will shake up traditional and staid approaches to local council engagement.”
Graeme Maughan, London Borough of Brent.
A programme of workshops brought in professional graffiti artists Monorex to provide young people with positive skill development, and ways to realise the vocational potential in their artistic abilities.
Reaching youths with appealing consultation methods such as the RANTBOX™, a roving ‘diary room’ environment, we were able to explore the issue of unsolicited graffiti within its wider context.
This insight fed into a collaborative design event where stakeholders including young people, the Metropolitan Police and the Transport Police created a strategy based on diversionary activities and prevention rather than cleaning.
The Design Council and Home Office’s Designing Out Crime Programme cited the project as example of how design can impact on anti-social behaviours.
Read the National Social Marketing Centre case study.
Watch a film case study by the National Social Marketing Centre.
Watch a film about the pilot Diversionary programme.
Visit the blog for the Diversionary programme.
See more project photos on Flickr.
Click images to enlarge
