Case Study · UX Design · Landscape Design
Freedom Unveiled is a proposed landscape architectural project that utilizes downtown Los Angeles to take one step closer to eradicating one of the greatest humanitarian issues of human trafficking.
Freedom Unveiled is a design strategy based on multiple social platforms that creates awareness on human trafficking through campaigns, street art installations, and critical emergency call methods; it seeks to bring residents of downtown Los Angeles one step closer to eradicate one of the greatest humanitarian issues of modern day slavery.
September 2019 - March 2020
Los Angeles has one of the highest rates of human trafficking in America, yet there is a limited awareness of this exploitation and a lack of strategies to aid a victim in getting out of the trafficking system.
To implement design strategies for those directly or indirectly effected by human trafficking within a place of highly human trafficked areas and population density.
UX, UI, and Landscape designer for Freedom Unveiled within all design phases from conception to delivery.
Researching, testing scenarios, preliminary design, accounting for accessibility, and production and development.
40.3 million victims of human trafficking globally
"The United States is the number one consumer of sex worldwide. So we are driving the demand as a society."
The average age of entry into sex trafficking is 16.
4 in 10 human trafficking victims come from the foster care system.
Research has revealed that current approaches to aiding victims or bringing awareness to the general public lack a connection with users mental, physical, and cultural needs.
Awareness: Lack of accommodating diverse user groups.
Awareness: Community members have no emotional tie to victims to have the desire to help.
Refuge: No place of feeling safety.
Refuge: Victims have a hard time being discrete while trying to escape their trafficker.
Observations & Analysis
I noticed a heavy flow of pedestrian traffic within a 1 mile radius from Union Station- one of the largest west coast transport hubs. Utilizing the transportation systems in Los Angeles will be beneficial, as many traffickers often re-locate their workers for demand purposes, has a high pedestrian flow, and caters to a diverse group of people.
This design utilizes campaign tactics for victims to seek help in a non-verbal and secretive manner while doing a common daily activity. I brought accessibility in the various campaigns to reach those who may not have access to technology. Each highlighted location in the map of downtown LA corresponds with where each daily activity campaign is located. This shows an increased accessibility for all victims.
The installation within the landscape translates the human experience into an abstract installation to symbolize pain and healing. Victim testimonies are engraved in the ground in various languages to bring diversity and inclusion to viewers throughout downtown LA. This also addresses the pain point of fostering an emotional connection between the general public and victim stories.
Users of these spaces did not have a strong sense of "safety and security" while interacting with these new design solutions. As a result, I have drafted design solutions that psychologically appease a user through material choices, scale, color, etc in both horizontal and vertical platforms.
Located within the Pueblo Plaza across from Union Station, the design serves as a catalyst to other urban spaces throughout downtown Los Angeles to bring awareness to all groups of people.
To further communicate the image of healing an emotional wound, the seasonal growth of various plants within the ground's "open wound" is translated in within the landscape.
Campaign tactics allow victims to seek help in a secretive manner while doing a common daily activity, shown here in the Pueblo Plaza.
The importance of implementing this installation within a large open plaza embodies a sense of security with planted beds, lighting, and sun exposure for users to feel a sense of protection. Users may feel a level of control by knowing what is happening before their eyes and not having anything hidden behind any walls.
