Rule29 was honored with the opportunity to create the 2nd annual report for Life In Abundance. LIA is helping to rewrite the tragic stories that typically come out of Sub-Saharan Africa. Through the organization’s work, new stories are emerging: communities are learning how to take care of themselves, locals are learning new skills, children are attending new schools, micro-financing programs are enabling individuals to start businesses, and communities are gaining the resources to take care of each other and reduce the spread of an uneducated populace. All in all, LIA is empowering change in the only way that matters (in our opinion) – through the creation of a holistic, sustainable model that brings permanent change to the communities affected.

This 2009 annual report, entitled “Empowering Change”, features articles and stories from 4 countries and surrounding areas that highlighted the struggles of each country, as well as powerful stories about incredible individuals that live there. Showing the actual empowerment of the surrounding communities was key in creating a successful piece. Through compelling stories and vivid photography (taken by our good friend Brian MacDonald), a very successful and enlightening piece was created.

For the cover, stylistically, we wanted to draw the viewer in with an incredible shot of the slums, partially from a distance. The large type that is rising from the horizon line was chosen to simulate the initiative to actually empower change within these communities. Throughout the annual there are 3 stories that feature hand written type on rough paper texture in order to remind us that these stories are coming from real people in the slums.

Life In Abundance now uses this powerful piece to highlight some of the remarkable work they do in Africa to donors, and their supporters.

How do you empower change?

For the last Creative Matters installment for 2010, we wanted to go out with some fun. This edition shows some of our latest online competitions, a cool new “custom design” handbag company, some new brand and cause related design, and one of our favorite web projects of the year. But don’t take our word for it – download now. Go grab your Santa mug, pour some egg nog, and take a peek.

:: Click here to download Creative Matters 26 ::

As with previous Creative Matters, please download the interactive PDF to click your way through via each hotlink, or simply scroll through it page by page (best viewed with the latest version of Acrobat Reader).

New things and creative reminders:

Check out our newly launched Rule29 Store and R29 Shorts pages

Don’t forget you can still “BE IN CHARGE”

And as our 10th year comes to a close, take another stroll down memory lane with the Rule29 TEN x TEN anniversary site currently highlighting ten projects from every year between 2000-2010.

We hope you enjoy the new newsletter, this holiday season, and have an amazing close to 2010!

Thanks,

The design monkeys from Rule29

There is nothing better than a group of people enthusiastically working together for a common purpose. If you have ever experienced this, you know the feeling. There is an energy in the air that promotes ideas, creativity and propels people into action. It’s addictive and life giving. It’s something we all hope would be a common occurrence at our companies. It’s what we daydream about and what we vision cast for. Life is better and the days seem to fly when this energy permeates your work place.

Of course not all days are like this.

If you feel your office needs a boost, a great way to start facilitating this type of atmosphere is by getting everyone involved in something for the greater good. Causes that help others in need has a magical way of bringing people together.

We like to do this a lot. Giving back is something we talk about frequently and do our best to practice.

Today we have a great opportunity to do just that. Across the world people are stopping to recognize and celebrate all of those who are fighting the battle against AIDS. As members of a global community it is so important to remember those who struggle with this disease daily and, if we are able, to make commitments to come along side them.

Read the rest of the entry >

You might be, without even knowing it…

Can apathy toward injustice hold a person as a captive, unable to make a difference? Or maybe it’s not the apathy, but the lack of information of how to truly help those facing harsh realities of poverty-stricken lands. Well, we’re about to find out.

Our good pal, author Kelsey Timmerman, has been taken hostage by his publisher, because of his indifference to injustice in Kenya. Since being “detained” to raise money to go serve in Africa, Kelsey has learned about Kibera, the largest slum south of the Sahara. Over 1 million people live on the outskirts of Nairobi in a slum where the average person lives without clean drinking water (read: mixed with sewage as there is only one latrine for every 100 people), without education (especially girls), and subject to gang tyranny, among other sad factors.

It’s time to do something.

Kelsey is hoping to raise enough money to partner with LIA, MacDonald Photography, and yours truly, to film a documentary about what can really change the situation: holistic community development through micro-enterprise. By giving people at the grass-roots level not only the dignity but also the practical necessity of having a stable, respected occupation, communities can change tremendously for the good of all. Together, we are hoping that this documentary will make the everyday American not only aware of the situation in African slums, but also of how to realistically help that situation change.

Want to escape apathy and help now? You can donate to the cause, learn more, help decide Kelsey’s fate by voting, or tweet this:
“Don’t be Held Hostage by Apathy! http://bit.ly/ae2XCA #apathyhostage”

Plus, all donors’ names will appear in the film credits. If you can’t wait for the release this fall, check out This is My Home, our first documentary about the street children of Ethiopia, and how LIA is working to bring hope into a desperate situation there.

Oh, and big props to our friends at Wiley and Relevant for helping us get the word out!

Every once and a while we get the privilege to work with an organization whose main function is changing the world for the better. Life In Abundance is one of those organizations. About 2 years ago we were introduced to LIA and ever since meeting them we have been cheerleading their cause, encouraging everyone we know to get involved with this amazing African based non-for-profit. Reflecting over the past 2 years it’s a little overwhelming to see all that we have done together. From revamping their identity to the near completion of a documentary (available for public purchase soon!!) it has been an exciting journey to see where we have been and where we have come. In celebration of the work we have done together, we wanted to take a look back at the evolution of the LIA identity. Read the rest of the entry >