Foreskin Day 2023

Opportunity

In the United States, the foreskin often gets a bad rap, frequently only brought up in the context of its surgical removal. Intact America, a healthcare education and advocacy nonprofit created Foreskin Day to celebrate this unique part of the body that is often overlooked within the bodily autonomy conservation. When approached about working on such a fun and unique project, I couldn’t say no!

Creative Process

Conversations about the foreskin can often be uncomfortable or tense, so I crafted a playful, vibrant, over-the-top branding system that gives viewers permission to laugh and engage in this conversation. Foreskin Day is first and foremost a celebration. While many visuals in intactivism (the movement advocating for the bodily autonomy and genital integrity of newborns) are intense, dark, and grungy, I knew this had to be the opposite. This event brand needed to invite audiences in, rather than scare them away.

When crafting the visual language, I infused professionalism and joyful expression through retro-contemporary typography and lively colors. Warm hues complemented a base of blue (primary to Intact America’s organizational branding) to create a cheerful mood. In addition, I added visual elements such as rays of color and a circular foreskin print, made by adding ink to the end of the foreskin and pressing it into paper.

Digital Outreach

I designed and developed the www.foreskin.day website to serve as the hub for the celebration. Early on in the process, the team at Intact America decided not to include a navigation bar, instead having the homepage preview the interior pages. Each section had a color story that corresponded with its respective page.

After sketching and wireframing a site that was easy to navigate, I assisted in curating the content. The site included everything from information, ways to celebrate, cocktail recipes, and merchandise.

To spread the word, I created social media graphics that could be downloaded from the site and shared. Each design had both a square and social media story version, making them adaptable to different platforms.

Merch & Playlist

To add even more fun to the programming of Foreskin Day, I proposed print-on-demand merchandise. Each year, I have created designs that tie into that year’s theme, letting supporters choose which style of over-the-top they want to wear. From shirts to hats to underwear, we have had success with the merch shop. In addition, I curated a sex-positive playlist for the annual celebration.

Results

Each year, the Foreskin Day event gains more traction, with increased views on content and sales of merch. This spreads the message and normalizes a part of the body that has been pathologized for decades in this country.