AIGA, the professional association for design, recently announced the winners of 365: AIGA Year in Design, and School of Art endowed assistant professor in graphic design Dina Benbrahim was among the recipients as the winner of the social design category with her Kind Project. 

The AIGA competition celebrates designers, design teams and their clients for effectively working together to design creative solutions for challenges presented by businesses and organizations during the calendar year 2022.  

The Kind Project uses design and public spaces to normalize inclusive conversations on menstruation and increase access to period products in the Northwest Arkansas community and beyond in the most dignifying ways. 

Benbrahim, in collaboration with Hello Departures, School of Art students and faculty, and the Fayetteville Public Library, reimagined the cold and unintuitive coin-operated period products dispenser for a more inclusive and accessible dispenser. 

An esteemed panel of jurors reviewed 609 entries from more than 16 countries and selected 52 entries that represent excellence in design. One juror described the design of the Kind Project as a display that inspires trust, transparency and a meaningful service while building awareness.  

"The Kind Project is a great example of the contemporary practice of design, in marrying a social cause with bold and engaging design and construction," said Tom Hapgood, interim program director graphic design for the School of Art in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. "Even with an interest in designing something new and unique, the experience of the person who will engage with the dispenser and a hopeful new outcome was the priority, with an upbeat and contemporary type treatment and colors. This is a great example of how many designers see the role of design today." 

Kind Project dispensers are currently located at the Fayetteville Public Library and The Medium located in Springdale. In addition, Benbrahim and collaborators created a Kind Kit with brand assets and guidelines for communities to request and create their own Kind Project.    

"It's a huge honor to receive this prestigious award, and it's been an even more rewarding experience leading this interdisciplinary project, collaborating with change-makers, seeing the transformative impact it had on students and observing the difference it continues to make in the local community for menstruators," Benbrahim said.  

This project has provided more than a year of period products, including Kind Kits, sustainable menstrual cups, long-lasting period underwear in inclusive sizes as well as organic tampons, liners and pads free of dioxins, pesticides and toxins. 

To learn more about the Kind Project and Benbrahim's work, visit hellodepartures.org.