With a clear starting point established for the ideas our prison service could provide, the next stage focuses on developing them into more tangible, realistic outcomes. This involves revisiting our initial list of concepts and translating them into practical solutions that directly benefit our target audience of young fathers in prison. Through the use of basic mock-ups and early drafts, we can start to visualise how these ideas will function in practice, allowing us to refine and build on them further in later stages of the project.
After establishing the core ideas of what our brand, Anchor, will provide for prisoners across Northern Ireland, the next step was to develop these concepts further in more detail. This involved breaking down each service to clearly define what it includes and how it will be delivered in practice. Expanding on these ideas makes it easier to understand their purpose and functionality and creates a clearer foundation for the design stage. This ensures that when these concepts are brought to life, they are well-structured, practical, and aligned with the project's overall goals.
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Refining Anchor’s core ideas into detailed services helped clarify how they will work in practice and provided a strong foundation for the design stage.
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With this stage complete, the core services for Anchor feel strong and provide a solid foundation moving forward. It became clear that positioning Anchor as a physical service, rather than a digital one, is more suitable within a prison setting. Focusing on tangible elements such as spaces, printed materials, and hands-on activities allows for more accessible and meaningful engagement, supporting our aim of rebuilding relationships between fathers and their children through real, shared experiences. Now I can focus on actually designing these fully.
The first key area I focused on was finalising what support and options we were going to offer to prisoners in relation to family and relationships. Referring back to the mindmaps, I explored a range of content to include, such as brochures, community cards, and a personal journal, all designed to align with our brand aims and provide meaningful support. To begin this process, I started by noting down the areas I wanted to focus on for the packages, allowing me to explore how they could be visually designed and communicated before developing them further.
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I began creating the resource package by looking at initial ideas for materials like brochures, cards, and a journal to explore how they could support fathers and align with our brand.
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As a group, we previously discussed what we wanted to include within our resource packages for fathers in prison who are aiming to rebuild connections with their children and partners. This helped us define the key support needs that the package should address clearly and practically, and we decided that it should include:
Based on our previous research, these components provide the most relevant and effective foundation for the resource packages. They will now act as the key areas for further development and design within our project, ensuring the outcome is both purposeful and supportive for our target audience.
The first area I focused on within the resource packs was the About Us guide, as it serves as an important introduction to Anchor and its purpose. It helps users understand what the service is, who it is for, and how it supports rebuilding relationships. It is designed for fathers in prison, as well as their partners, prison staff, and mentors, providing a clear and accessible overview that establishes trust and explains how the service can be used.