WORDS OF WELCOME

TitleWORDS OF WELCOME
BrandVEREIN FÜR BERLINER STADTMISSION
Product/ServiceTAPE ROLL
Category E02. Social Purpose
Entrant DDB GROUP GERMANY Berlin, GERMANY
Idea Creation DDB GROUP GERMANY Berlin, GERMANY
Credits
Name Company Position
Myles Lord DDB Group Germany GmbH Creative Managing Director
Tom Hauser DDB Group Germany GmbH Executive Creative Director
Marlon von Franquemont DDB Group Germany GmbH Senior Art Director
Mahmoud Fathy DDB Group Germany GmbH Head of Design
Reinier Gorissen DDB Group Germany GmbH Senior Copywriter
Yvette de Wit DDB Group Germany GmbH Art Intern
David Barton DDB Group Germany GmbH Client Service Director
Catrin Schmid DDB Group Germany GmbH Account Director
kapacht GmbH, Berlin kapacht GmbH, Berlin Production
MediaMonks, Amsterdam MediaMonks, Amsterdam Web Agency
text&form GmbH text&form GmbH Translation
Maik Reichert Maik Reichert Filmmaker
Timo Stammberger Timo Stammberger Photographer
Jeroen Eduard van der Meer MediaMonks, Amsterdam Executive Creative Director
Maarten Breda MediaMonks, Amsterdam Digital Producer
Daniela Ferrer MediaMonks, Amsterdam Project Manager
Damian Lattiero MediaMonks, Amsterdam Designer
Cristian Fernandez Maik Reichert Designer
Fabian Guerrero MediaMonks, Amsterdam Developer
Victor Garrido MediaMonks, Amsterdam Developer
Sara Pedroncelli DDB Group Germany GmbH Junior Account Manager
Matthias Grebin DDB Group Germany GmbH Motion Designer

The Campaign

Words of Welcome is a design concept that turns every aid donation into a German language lesson. Together with language experts, we developed a phonetic system that combines German language and the Arabic script. We created phonetic transcriptions for the names of the most essential items and created a new label for these products. By reading these labels aloud in Arabic, refugees can instantly pronounce the word in perfect German. With every relabeled product refugees add a new German word to their vocabulary. We created transcribed labels for 28 essential aid items for refugees: Water, adhesive bandages, shower gel, shampoo, soap, baby milk, baby bottle, diapers, baby pacifier, sanitary pads, toothpaste, toothbrush, cough syrup, football, winter jacket, underwear, socks, note book, reading book, batteries, blanket, razor, neckerchiefs, rain boots, teddybear, cookies, nuts and hot water bottle.

Creative Execution

In collaboration with multiple refugee shelters, we selected the most essential products that serve the basic needs of the refugees. Next, we developed a phonetic system together with language experts to create phonetic transcriptions for the names of these items. To support as many people as possible, we created these transcriptions in three languages: Arabic, Farsi and Urdu. By printing the transcriptions on a simple roll of box tape we made it easy for volunteers and refugees to repackage the donations on site. The tape uses 7 different colours representing different product categories –helping to differentiate food, sanitary, medical and baby products. The platform caters for the first 28 words every refugee needs to learn so they can communicate their basic needs. Even more words on their way to be produced. An online platform enables people to help spread the word to other citizens, brands and corporations to attract new sponsors.

We empower Syrian refugees in Germany to instantly communicate their basic needs in German. ( Please see case film for references ) To date we produced over 70.000 metres of tape to help refugees learn German - helping asylum seekers feel more understood and more welcome in their new environment.

To achieve our goal of helping to bridge the communication gap we had to keep costs and logistics to a minimum while ensuring that our impact was substantial. The idea needed to help Syrians learn the German language but also needed to be easily implemented by volunteers in crowded and often chaotic camps. We focused on the first 28 words every refugee should learn in German; the names of the essential items they need every day. We then created a design system to help learn these words and applied them directly to the items as a replacement label. With every aid product they received they were able to learn the word and subsequently ask for this item in fluent German.