Gone Too Soon
Havas NY collaborates with several pro-bono nonprofit clients each year to make a positive impact on the New York community. One of these clients is The Harris Project, which focuses on raising awareness about co-occurring disorders (COD) in young adults, particularly the intersection of mental health and substance abuse.
As the Art Director on this campaign, I had the privilege of contributing to a project that, much like many young people facing COD, conceals a harsh reality in plain sight.
Alexander McQueen, one of the most iconic and influential designers in fashion history, tragically took his own life on February 11th, 2010, after a long battle with COD.
In collaboration with my copywriting partner, Stella McFarland (www.stellamcfarland.com), we conceived a project to honor McQueen's legacy by bringing his unfinished fashion sketches to life. Our vision was to showcase what could have been had his COD been properly treated.
But we took it one step further.
We brought McQueen's sketches to life, crafting outfits that conceal messages about COD within the fabric. When viewed through colored-lens glasses, these hidden messages come to light. This concept is versatile, working both on the runway and in public installations, where a pop-up lens allows people to uncover the messages as they pass by.