Overview
Creative Repute was engaged through The ROZ Group to support the design and final development of the Trigger Facilitator’s Guide, a comprehensive toolkit created in partnership with the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS). This work brought together a broad group of stakeholders, including program teams, the Engaging Males of Color (EMOC) initiative, First Person Arts, FreshFly Films, Glenn Films, and additional community and subject-matter contributors.
At its core, the Trigger initiative is rooted in the belief that storytelling can serve as a powerful intervention. The facilitator’s guide extends that impact by equipping communities to host screenings, lead conversations, and connect participants to meaningful support.
The Opportunity
The facilitator’s guide needed to function as a bridge between storytelling and action. It had to translate sensitive and often heavy subject matter around gun violence into something that felt accessible, supportive, and immediately usable by a wide range of facilitators; some would be experienced professionals, while others would be community members stepping into this role for the first time.
At the same time, the project moved at an accelerated pace. The toolkit was needed for active community use, which required thoughtful decision-making, efficient collaboration, and the ability to bring clarity to evolving inputs without slowing momentum. The opportunity was not only to design a strong resource, but to do so in a way that could meet urgency without compromising quality or intention.
Translating the Film’s Aesthetic into a System
A key priority for this project was ensuring that the toolkit felt like a natural extension of the film itself. We were not provided with the original editable design files used to create the film’s cover art so the Creative Repute design team studied the visual language closely and rebuilt that aesthetic from the ground up. This involved creating torn newspaper textures, layered paper cutouts, and carefully treated photography that echoed the layered, raw, fragmented nature of the stories being told. Each visual element was intentionally constructed. Photos were cut, layered, and refined, while textures and filters were applied through a process of iteration to achieve a cohesive look with the other marketing materials including the film’s cover art. The goal was to ensure the toolkit felt seamless alongside the film, as if it had been created by the same designer, even though it was made by our team independently.
This approach extended throughout the entire guide. The paper cutout aesthetic is not decorative, it reflects the emotional tone of the content. The layered, imperfect edges mirror the complexity of trauma and lived experience, while the overall composition holds together with clarity and care.
Designing for a Digital Experience
This toolkit was intended to function as a digital-first resource. Creative Repute designed the guide as an interactive PDF that allows facilitators to click on links to access the additional resources they need, including the online film, promotional assets like flyers and book marks, worksheets, and additional tools so that the people holding the toolkit could move fluidly between planning and execution. Other things that facilitators can access includes a suggested run-of-show template, registration platform recommendations, surveys, and more all within a single, connected experience. This creates a centralized system that reduces friction and supports real-time use.
While optimized for digital interaction, the toolkit remains versatile. It can be printed as needed, ensuring accessibility across different communities and environments. This balance allows the guide to meet people where they are while maintaining the integrity of the digital experience.
Structuring for Real-World Use
Beyond aesthetics and interactivity, the toolkit needed to be practical and so Creative Repute organized the content from various folders and files and formats provided into a clear, intuitive flow that mirrors the lifecycle of a screening event. Facilitators are guided step-by-step, from defining their audience and intended impact to executing the event and supporting participants afterward. The guide also incorporates trauma-informed considerations throughout, such as designated care spaces, the suggestion to include on-site clinicians, and structured discussion prompts help ensure that events are not only engaging, but safe and supportive for participants.
The Solution
The final Trigger Facilitator’s Guide is a visually distinct, interactive PDF toolkit that transforms a powerful film and resources into a repeatable community intervention. It combines a carefully crafted aesthetic with a highly functional structure, allowing organizations, educators, and community leaders to facilitate meaningful conversations around gun violence and trauma. The guide is both expressive and practical, grounded in emotion while designed for execution.
With the design delivered by Creative Repute within an accelerated timeline, the toolkit reflects a balance of speed, intention, and attention to detail, ensuring it could be used immediately while remaining valuable over time. More importantly, it creates a model for how storytelling, design, and structure can work together to support healing and dialogue. By providing both the emotional entry point and the practical tools for engagement, the toolkit helps communities move from awareness to action. Through collaboration with The ROZ Group and project stakeholders, Creative Repute helped shape a resource that is cohesive, usable, and grounded in purpose. It reflects a commitment to delivering thoughtful work, even under pressure, and to creating tools that support real impact in the communities they are designed to serve.
If you’re looking to develop a community-centered resource or toolkit, explore our community engagement and design services or get in touch with our team.
