Several years ago, MPower (Nebraska AIDS Project’s HIV prevention program targeting gay and bisexual men) needed a fresh approach to their free condom distribution program. They needed condom wrappers to disseminate AIDS education information, but also to try and remove the stigma of taking free condoms at local bars and clubs.

Oxide collaborated with MPower to design and illustrate a set of six wrappers in which condoms were given away. Our solution uses a combination of kitschy art, bad double-entendres and a fun ‘collectibility’ to make it hip for club-goers to reach for the condom bowl.

To date, the project is still one of Oxide’s most successful. Anecdotal evidence indicates that more people were taking and using the condoms than anyone could have hoped, surpassing all projected goals. To this day, people that see the few remaining boxes are still engaged and entertained.

For quite some time, I’ve been looking to take the success of this design to a broader stage. Here’s what I’m thinking: these package designs could translate easily into a complete range of gift items: posters, t-shirts, coffee mugs, etc. Because of public response to the wrappers, I have confidence that the related products would do well in the marketplace.

Here’s where you come in: we’re looking for a creative plan or a interested partner to assist in implementing this idea. The ideal scenario would be to partner with a national AIDS non-profit, where they market to their broad, pre-existing constituency. (Nebraska AIDS Project probably doesn’t have the resources or the reach to make the plan work on a large scale.) A small fraction of the proceeds could be shared with NAP and distributed to Oxide to cover costs, and then the national AIDS organization would keep the lion’s share of the profits to support their education and/or prevention efforts.

That said, we’re open to any and all other ideas. We would really love to see these designs gain new life and be able to continue contributing to the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS.

We’d enjoy hearing your thoughts. Please leave a comment, or send a message directly to elementary@oxidedesign.com.