Hand in Hand

Element Award — Digital

Zoë Ocean Kaushal

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Hand in Hand is a digital platform designed to connect orphanages with donors, volunteers and businesses in an ethical, transparent and accessible way. The project was created with the objective of bridging communication gaps, simplifying donations and building trust without relying on emotionally exploitative design.

The design focused on clarity, warmth and usability, employing a neutral yet inviting colour palette, clean typography and a simple user flow to prioritize accessibility. Communication choices emphasized transparency, offering real-time updates, donation tracking and personalized orphanage profiles to ensure supporters could clearly see the impact of their contributions. Careful attention was given to tone, avoiding guilt-driven appeals and instead fostering a sense of dignity, trust and long-term engagement.

The project highlights urgent realities, including that 153 million children worldwide are classified as orphans, yet only 0.5% of global charitable donations directly support orphanages. The strength of Hand in Hand was further recognized when the designer’s professor encouraged its submission to awards, underscoring the project’s potential to resonate with like-minded individuals and contribute to meaningful dialogue around social impact design.