Transforming Narratives of Gun Violence

Project Overview:

Although Boston has a low rate of gun deaths compared to other major cities in the United States, this does not diminish the value of those lives that are lost. Nor does it dismiss the experiences of hundreds of individuals, predominantly individuals of color, who are impacted each year by gun violence in our city. The media coverage and narratives surrounding these neighborhoods often ignore the peace and healing that is happening, instead defining them by
one tragic moment which perpetuates negative and harmful stereotypes.

Through digital storytelling, this project works to uplift the voices of those impacted. By creating a platform to hold the stories and experiences of the community, it allows those who are most impacted by gun violence the chance to shift narratives and reclaim their experiences on their own terms.

Project: Transforming Narratives of Gun Violence - Media Design Master’s Thesis @ Emerson College

Role: UX Researcher

  • User Research

  • Visual Design

  • Community engagement

Duration: 1 year (Boston, MA)

Tools: Figma & Adobe XD

Additional Information: This project was created as a part of the Transforming Narratives of Gun Violence initiative at the Engagement Lab. The Media Design Master’s program at Emerson college partnered with the initiative to design an audio platform.

User Journey Maps

Personas

  • We partnered with Real Talk for Change which hosts community-led conversations about Boston's future. This partnership with Real Talk for Change gives us the audio data we need to create an effective new iteration of the portal.

    They also hold the skills to create a safe environment to foster these conversations and allow the participants to feel comfortable and confident in telling their stories. Although RTFC brings essential tools to the table within this project, they support the work that is already being done within the community and the initiative.

    We also partnered with MIT Center for Constructive Communication (MIT C3) and The Boston Project Ministries (TBPM).

  • “How might we make these voices and stories accessible and valuable to those who participated in the conversations? How can we ensure these stories are used effectively to help advance the narrative goals of the partner organizations when relating to the gun violence narrative within their community?”

  • 1. Historically, what is the relationship between gun violence and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities?

    2. What is the relationship between media (mis) representation, and gun violence reporting in the US?

    3. What are the impacts of digital storytelling and audio data within the process of healing from trauma?

  • Research Methods

    • Workshops

    • Interviews

    • Field Observations

    Design Methods

    • User interviews

    • Concept testing

    • Prototyping

    • User testing

Initial Wireframes & Mock - Ups

Check out our final findings and working prototype.

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