University graphic design students have teamed up with Prosperity Gardens to rebrand the urban agricultural nonprofit in hopes of attracting donors.

Under the direction of graphic design professors Eric Benson and Brian Wiley, about 60 students in their introductory and advanced level graphic design classes are creating and promoting the corporate identity of Prosperity Gardens.

Prosperity Gardens, run by University alumna Nicole Bridges, is a small organization aimed at providing access to produce and employment for at-risk youth in the North First Street Neighborhood. Vegetables are cultivated by the youth, ages 5 to 17, in an urban garden equipped with 14 raised beds.

“Ordinarily we could just be making a poster for a project,” said Sarah Chaney, junior in FAA. “With this (collaboration), we got to see a person who is trying to accomplish something and then try to help (Bridges) accomplish her goals.”

With both classes, Benson and Wiley implemented the Vertical Studio Model, a new teaching approach for the graphic design department.

“It allows the students to interact with each other more — they’re always sort of siloed at sophomore, junior, senior levels and they hardly get together,” Benson said. “This was a really good chance for them to do that.”

The students were divided into two three-week sections. The first session identified issues, such as Prosperity Gardens’ signage as well as fundraising and planned how to address them while the second session executed those plans.

Chaney, who was on the public relations team, was responsible for creating videos that would address community outreach. 

On Feb. 15, the project began with a weekend workshop in which students met Bridges and identified challenges Prosperity Gardens faced.

For Bridges, the proposal was initially confusing.

“Just on the basis of what is a graphic artist going to do for an urban agriculture non-profit organization,” Bridges said. “It was really exciting once we got the ball rolling. I was able to get on board that first day.”

One of the first changes made was to the logo, which was originally off-limits.

“This logo was near and dear to my heart,” Bridges said. “I said do anything you want, but don’t change my logo.”

On the second day of the project, Bridges was called and asked to talk about the logo. 

A simplified, more cost-efficient logo was presented to Bridges and she eventually approved.  

“They completely kept the essence of it but made it much more relevant and effective and efficient for our needs,” Bridges said. “These are things I would have never thought about. That was a powerful piece just in that first day.”

The graphic design students are scheduled to complete their projects for Prosperity Gardens on March 29.

“When it’s all said and done, it’s been lots of weeks and lots of work on both our parts,” Bridges said. “I hope that wherever we’re located on North First Street becomes this epicenter around a movement towards healthier, happier living.”

Amaya can be reached at [email protected]