Relatables: Advocacy for Social Injustice Awareness and Shaping Identity Through Fictional Characters and Collectibles

As children and preteens begin to grow up and make their way through their teenage years, they are beginning to figure themselves out and form their own identities. They are starting to learn about events and the issues going on in the world and they are forced to determine their stance on certain issues whether that be their self-identity, politics, social injustice, etc. Realistically, many people feel uncomfortable talking about these issues. We want to prepare our audience, so they are not afraid or uncomfortable of such conversations. Through collectible cards and enamel pins with a children’s book, this product acts as a gateway to becoming more educated at an earlier age, and it aims to spread awareness about the experiences of our peers. The combination of digital branding and physical objects puts our purpose of spreading awareness in a way that makes it easier for our peers to understand. When people can relate to an idea, they will develop a personal connection to it and feel comfortable. We want our audience to be able to identify with, feel connected, and get educated on social injustice topics like mental health, discrimination, or harassment through our product. In recent years, education technology has been transforming the way we learn. With our project’s website feature, it is a more immersive and entertaining way to learn. Our generation has grown up with collectibles like Webkinz, Pokemon, Build-A-Bears, etc. that would come with a digital feature where owners can form a personal connection with their character for fun. Our purpose is to bring that back and make it more modern, current, and educational.