Design Ignites Change - Projects

Parsons The New School for Design

Hunts Point, a neighbourhood in the South Bronx in New York City, is a designated Operation Impact Zone. It has become a ‘Frisk Zone’ where the streets are flooded with police to maintain control over high crime areas. Although police action is necessary in Hunts Point, frisking policies greatly alter community life and movement within the neighborhood. A play on Operation Impact’s Stop & Frisk, our initiative ‘Stop & Think’ aims to raise awareness and promote critical thinking in a way that would speak to both the community and the police patrolling the neighborhood.

Elie Kahwagi

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June 6, 2013

Hunts Point, a neighbourhood in the South Bronx is a designated Operation Impact Zone. Police action is necessary, however current frisking policies negatively alter community lifestyle & behavior.

Our initiative 'Stop & Think' plants provocative street signs throughout Hunts Point. The goal is to encourage critical thinking and dialogue between the community and the law enforcement.

A mixture of statistical data, community opinion and iconography starts a conversation between the residents & the police. It sheds light on the ineffectiveness and often illegal nature of frisking.

Our research shows that the highest frisk zones coincide with the bodegas of the community. We identify these areas for the implementation of our campaign.

Research data proves that frisking tactics are not working. Countless studies shed light on the fact that frisking & petty arrests do not reduce crime. Yet the tactic has been used for a decade. ‘Stop & Think” encourages law enforcement to rethink the effectiveness of existing policies.

Almost all public signage is created for citizens to create awareness of what they should and should not do. ‘STOP & THINK’ flips the narrative. Provocative street signs using a mixture of statistical data, community opinion and iconography start a conversation between the community and the law enforcement.

STOP & THINK

Parsons The New School for Design

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