THE SURVEY

GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVEY CAMPAIGN

The goal of the survey campaign was clear at project commencement: ask 17,500 students to be unflinchingly honest about their sexual choices and experiences and trust their college administration with their responses; then task them with recruiting their friends to do the same.

THE PROCESS

D&CO initiated a creative process that culminated with 15 students and administrators around a table, pouring over our creative suggestions— a real-time review with the designers and writers in the room. We completed the entire process, including print, in less than a month.

SPREADING THE WORD

We researched locations throughout the sprawling campus— we went into elevators, bathrooms, dorms, hallways, and found the perfect places where our messages could not be missed. Banners were draped from buildings around campus. Flyers were posted in common areas. Displays were placed on tables in dining halls. Advertisements were placed on buses. Posters were stuck to trash bins. The issue of sexual assault commanded attention, and we made sure the campaign matched the importance of the topic.

SUCCESS

In surveys of this nature, responses of between 10% and 25% are optimistically anticipated, on average. That the Georgetown survey was completed by 51% of overall recipients and 62% of the undergraduate population was a success. The data trove that resulted will go a long way towards addressing a vexing and disturbing issue for Georgetown and campuses across the US.

OVER 7,900+

SURVEYS COMPLETED

51%

OVERALL PARTICIPATION

62%

UNDERGRAD RESPONSE

52%

SURVEYS SUBMITTED

Unprecedented rates of participation and response success meant a far greater understanding of the situation at Georgetown and have brought immediate changes in understanding and approach.

IN MEMORIAM

Georgetown University Report on Slavery, Memory, and Reconciliation

D&CO was honored and humbled to design a historic document for Georgetown: The Report of the Working Group on Slavery, Memory, and Reconciliation. The 120-page book outlines Georgetown’s difficult and recently publicized history with slavery, and details a comprehensive set of recommendations to the President of the University to account for and redress Georgetown’s past relationship.

APPROACH

The Report’s understated yet dignified design reflects the serious nature of the book’s subject. The cover is embossed with the report title and University seal on a deep color blue and includes an action plan for the University community going forward. Georgetown plans to distribute 4,000 book copies over the next three months.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Our publication was on featured on The New York Times front page (web) via an article about Georgetown and the report helped draft.

The article is available to view here.