Design Indaba: Project Phoenix

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Design Indaba is Africa’s biggest design showcase and is attended by thousands of creative thought-leaders each year. We wanted to inspire delegates to use their creativity for good, by showing them real proof that creativity can make a meaningful change to someone's life.

So we looked at one of South Africa’s biggest problems – Gangsterism.

South African gangs are among the most feared in the world and can be identified by the crudely made tattoos or "Chappies" that scar their bodies. Some go to jail and try reform but struggle to reintegrate into society due to these tattoos. To make a change we created a documentary called “Project Phoenix” and helped transform a former gangster’s tattoos into symbols of hope and new beginnings.

It follows the journey of Roger Mouton, a former member of the "Hard Livings" and “Numbers Gang”, who was forced into gang life at an early age after tragically losing his family. With nothing to lose, he did what he had to in order to survive. After several years, he managed to claw his way out of the darkest pits of the underworld, only to find himself being held back by the gang-assoicated tattoos that cover his body.

Conceived by FoxP2 and co-directed by Giant Films’ directors, Robin Goode and Karien Murray, the story witnesses Roger’s transformation at the hands of South Africa’s top tattoo artist and co-founder of Wildfire Tattoos, Manuela Gray. With each session, the two begin to form a complex relationship that ultimately leads to Roger’s ominous tattoos being transformed into symbols of hope and new beginnings.

For more information visit www.projectphoenix.co.za

The Case Study