Design to Fight Sex Trafficking

By guest authors Charles W. Bush and Kathy Hwang of 3Strand Innovation, a brand, design and business consultancy.

Last year, we traveled to Bangkok to consult with a company that provided job training to victims of sex trafficking. They were making and selling products for the western market to support their efforts. The heart was certainly there, but sales were insufficient to sustain their operations. Time and time again we’ve had similar conversations with entrepreneurs who are creating products to support social enterprises around the world. Whether it’s poverty, human trafficking, AIDS or the environment, each has a compelling and unique story behind the products they sell. So why have so few shown significant market success?

We started thinking that there is real value in the story behind the product that could be brought forward. These organizations could give customers a memorable experience as part of the value proposition, rather than just a product.

We recently designed the INSPIRE pendant to help victims of human trafficking and support the efforts of these social entrepreneurs. Our design approach was this: What if we made this product the gift to give the woman in your life? What if we built the story into the design of the product? What if it became iconic and a way to share that story with friends?

You can find out more about it at 3stranddesign.com

What are your thoughts? Would you buy this type of product and support this cause?  How do you feel that today’s social entrepreneurs could provide a real value proposition to you as a customer?