Since 2017, over 600 Black people have been killed during routine traffic stops by police in America. The Driving While Black car was built to highlight the double standards Black people experience during the most common interaction with police—traffic stops. This project brings attention to the absurdity of these standards and gives people a clear perspective about the social injustice Black people face every time they get behind the wheel. From the absence of a glove box to a modified steering wheel to even the absence of a trunk, this car is equipped to keep drivers alive. We launched the car at the most important car event of the year: the Detroit Auto Show. We created an AR car experience that allows people to explore the car in real time, so they wouldn’t just hear about our car—they would know better what it’s like to drive while Black. DWB was shown around the country, beyond Detroit, including in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City and even in Canada. Our website allows visitors to learn the tragic stories behind each feature and get a better understanding of why each piece of the car is necessary. Viewers are invited to get involved by not only bringing awareness to the campaign but also learning how they can bring change to law enforcement in their community.
Contributors:
Chief Creative Officer: | Margaret Johnson & Val Carlson |
Creative Director: | Anthony O'Neill, Rony Castor, Steve Savic, Will Danilow, Michael McGrath-Sing |
Art Directors & Designers: | Ben Burgoyne, Pedro Zuccolini, Johann Vernizzi, Carlos Hernandez, Nick Bizzack, Tyler Wong, Myrrha |
Copywriters: | TShea King, Alanna Johnson, and Peter von Sass |
Producers: | Jim Haight, Danielle Riccardi, Lorraine Schreyer, Alissa Hansen, Sarah Pidgeon, Carolina Rodriguez |
Strategists: | Christine Chen, Simran Kaur, Drew Forrest, Taylor Yada, Joshua German, Charlie Doyle, Kelly Liu |
Account Team: | Leslie Barrett, Melissa Buck, Thomas Powers, Javonta Thomas |
Technology: | William Mincy, Damian Hadala, Courtney Ring, Rose and Brendan Azzano |
3D Artists: | Andrzej Milosz, Diego Quesada, Orlando Villalobos |
CRITICAL MASS
Website: www.criticalmass.com
Location: Canada
About the Agency:
Critical Mass is a team of 1500 inspired folks based in 12 offices around the world. We provide full-service digital capabilities for the greatest brands on Earth, but our secret sauce is our uncompromising design standards, our relentless focus on customers, and an ability to put powerful new technologies to work for our clients. We’re sought by brands who strive for connected digital ecosystems, and we help them get there by gaining deep insight into their consumer and orchestrating data, AI, design, media, and tech stacks around human stories. We’re a global agency founded in Canada, but digital is our home. If you know us, then you know we’re a special, quirky place that attracts big talent and tiny egos. (We actually give out a “so F-n nice” award—lots of them). But just because we’re friendly doesn’t mean we’re not a force to be reckoned with. We’re driven. Relentless. We live our values and hold ourselves to uncompromising design standards (which is probably why our clients stick with us for 7 years, on average). We’re also proud to be part of Omnicom, one of the largest holding companies for global advertising, marketing, digital, and communications services firms (serving more than 5,000 clients in over 100 countries). We’re Critical Mass, but our friends call us CM. Please call us CM!