Brown Office

Client: Barbican & Community Library
Commissioners: Helen Tremaine & Rachel Levy

Project Partner: Made By Play
Project Leads: Karl Toomey & Lizzie Reid
3D Signage Design: Dean Brown with Karl & Lizzie
Photography: Dean Brown
Date: June 2021

In early June 2021 the Barbican & Community Library in association with Made By Play invited Karl Toomey & Lizzie Reid to embark on a research project exploring loneliness and the role a library could play in helping foster more community connections. The extensive research, conducted through workshops, surveys and phone calls with members of the community, explored the notion of ‘bumping spaces’ (Dr Roger Green, et al 2015) as a way of addressing social isolation in the City of London. 

Brown Office were invited to join this interdisciplinary team to concept, detail, build and install signage that captured aspects of this research and presented it back to the community as 3-Dimensional landmarks deployed within the ‘bumping spaces’ around the Barbican estate. Our collaborative approach envisioned a signage system that not only prioritises messaging and signposting, but also public participation.  

Each of the four signs we created were distinctively double sided - one side featuring a quote from a local community member, the other featuring an interaction relating to the quote. Over the course of a two day public study in June 2021 community members were invited to dialogue with the quotes through writing, drawing, photography and mark making.  

 The signs were designed to be tonally approachable and informal, yet fit for outdoor use - composed of a timber construction with powder coated aluminium panels and weighted bases in the form of off-the-shelf buckets.  Composing the panels with ‘mismatched’ shapes in bold contrasting colours provided the opportunity to frame smaller shapes within larger shapes, as well as creating internal cut-outs to hold postcards, chalk and an instant camera.

Each sign has its own distinct colour-way and panel composition creating an overall impression of an eclectic and colourful family of sorts - each member with a unique character.  When deployed within the thoroughfares or ‘bumping spaces’ around the Barbican and Golden Lane the signage became a distinctive and approachable focal point that connected the Library to the community in a tangible and playful way.  

Day one of our study saw the signs deployed and used within Fortune Street Park, followed by the Barbican Highwalk on day two. During the two day study the four signs collectively had over 1000 views and 250 participant engagements. Furthermore they sparked numerous conversations between neighbours about loneliness, fostering more community connections and the role the Library can play in addressing these issues.

Beyond these initial studies the Library plans to use the signage, and the research that informed their design, in future public engagement initiatives.

Client: Barbican & Community Library 
Commissioners: Helen Tremaine & Rachel Levy

Project Partner: Made By Play
Project Leads: Karl Toomey & Lizzie Reid  
3D Signage Design: Dean Brown with Karl & Lizzie
Photography: Dean Brown
Date: June 2021

In early June 2021 the Barbican & Community Library in association with Made By Play invited Karl Toomey & Lizzie Reid to embark on a research project exploring loneliness and the role a library could play in helping foster more community connections. The extensive research, conducted through workshops, surveys and phone calls with members of the community, explored the notion of ‘bumping spaces’ (Dr Roger Green, et al 2015) as a way of addressing social isolation in the City of London. 

Brown Office were invited to join this interdisciplinary team to concept, detail, build and install signage that captured aspects of this research and presented it back to the community as 3-Dimensional landmarks deployed within the ‘bumping spaces’ around the Barbican estate. Our collaborative approach envisioned a signage system that not only prioritises messaging and signposting, but also public participation.  

Each of the four signs we created were distinctively double sided - one side featuring a quote from a local community member, the other featuring an interaction relating to the quote. Over the course of a two day public study in June 2021 community members were invited to dialogue with the quotes through writing, drawing, photography and mark making.  

 The signs were designed to be tonally approachable and informal, yet fit for outdoor use - composed of a timber construction with powder coated aluminium panels and weighted bases in the form of off-the-shelf buckets.  Composing the panels with ‘mismatched’ shapes in bold contrasting colours provided the opportunity to frame smaller shapes within larger shapes, as well as creating internal cut-outs to hold postcards, chalk and an instant camera.

Each sign has its own distinct colour-way and panel composition creating an overall impression of an eclectic and colourful family of sorts - each member with a unique character.  When deployed within the thoroughfares or ‘bumping spaces’ around the Barbican and Golden Lane the signage became a distinctive and approachable focal point that connected the Library to the community in a tangible and playful way.  

Day one of our study saw the signs deployed and used within Fortune Street Park, followed by the Barbican Highwalk on day two. During the two day study the four signs collectively had over 1000 views and 250 participant engagements. Furthermore they sparked numerous conversations between neighbours about loneliness, fostering more community connections and the role the Library can play in addressing these issues.

Beyond these initial studies the Library plans to use the signage, and the research that informed their design, in future public engagement initiatives.

Client: Barbican & Community Library 
Commissioners: Helen Tremaine & Rachel Levy

Project Partner: Made By Play
Project Leads: Karl Toomey & Lizzie Reid  
3D Signage Design: Dean Brown with Karl & Lizzie
Photography: Dean Brown
Date: June 2021

In early June 2021 the Barbican & Community Library in association with Made By Play invited Karl Toomey & Lizzie Reid to embark on a research project exploring loneliness and the role a library could play in helping foster more community connections. The extensive research, conducted through workshops, surveys and phone calls with members of the community, explored the notion of ‘bumping spaces’ (Dr Roger Green, et al 2015) as a way of addressing social isolation in the City of London. 

Brown Office were invited to join this interdisciplinary team to concept, detail, build and install signage that captured aspects of this research and presented it back to the community as 3-Dimensional landmarks deployed within the ‘bumping spaces’ around the Barbican estate. Our collaborative approach envisioned a signage system that not only prioritises messaging and signposting, but also public participation.  

Each of the four signs we created were distinctively double sided - one side featuring a quote from a local community member, the other featuring an interaction relating to the quote. Over the course of a two day public study in June 2021 community members were invited to dialogue with the quotes through writing, drawing, photography and mark making.  

 The signs were designed to be tonally approachable and informal, yet fit for outdoor use - composed of a timber construction with powder coated aluminium panels and weighted bases in the form of off-the-shelf buckets.  Composing the panels with ‘mismatched’ shapes in bold contrasting colours provided the opportunity to frame smaller shapes within larger shapes, as well as creating internal cut-outs to hold postcards, chalk and an instant camera.

Each sign has its own distinct colour-way and panel composition creating an overall impression of an eclectic and colourful family of sorts - each member with a unique character.  When deployed within the thoroughfares or ‘bumping spaces’ around the Barbican and Golden Lane the signage became a distinctive and approachable focal point that connected the Library to the community in a tangible and playful way.  

Day one of our study saw the signs deployed and used within Fortune Street Park, followed by the Barbican Highwalk on day two. During the two day study the four signs collectively had over 1000 views and 250 participant engagements. Furthermore they sparked numerous conversations between neighbours about loneliness, fostering more community connections and the role the Library can play in addressing these issues.

Beyond these initial studies the Library plans to use the signage, and the research that informed their design, in future public engagement initiatives.

Client: Barbican & Community Library 
Commissioners: Helen Tremaine & Rachel Levy

Project Partner: Made By Play
Project Leads: Karl Toomey & Lizzie Reid  
3D Signage Design: Dean Brown with Karl & Lizzie
Photography: Dean Brown
Date: June 2021

In early June 2021 the Barbican & Community Library in association with Made By Play invited Karl Toomey & Lizzie Reid to embark on a research project exploring loneliness and the role a library could play in helping foster more community connections. The extensive research, conducted through workshops, surveys and phone calls with members of the community, explored the notion of ‘bumping spaces’ (Dr Roger Green, et al 2015) as a way of addressing social isolation in the City of London. 

Brown Office were invited to join this interdisciplinary team to concept, detail, build and install signage that captured aspects of this research and presented it back to the community as 3-Dimensional landmarks deployed within the ‘bumping spaces’ around the Barbican estate. Our collaborative approach envisioned a signage system that not only prioritises messaging and signposting, but also public participation.  

Each of the four signs we created were distinctively double sided - one side featuring a quote from a local community member, the other featuring an interaction relating to the quote. Over the course of a two day public study in June 2021 community members were invited to dialogue with the quotes through writing, drawing, photography and mark making. 

The signs were designed to be tonally approachable and informal, yet fit for outdoor use - composed of a timber construction with powder coated aluminium panels and weighted bases in the form of off-the-shelf buckets.  Composing the panels with ‘mismatched’ shapes in bold contrasting colours provided the opportunity to frame smaller shapes within larger shapes, as well as creating internal cut-outs to hold postcards, chalk and an instant camera.

Each sign has its own distinct colour-way and panel composition creating an overall impression of an eclectic and colourful family of sorts - each member with a unique character.  When deployed within the thoroughfares or ‘bumping spaces’ around the Barbican and Golden Lane the signage became a distinctive and approachable focal point that connected the Library to the community in a tangible and playful way. 

Day one of our study saw the signs deployed and used within Fortune Street Park, followed by the Barbican Highwalk on day two. During the two day study the four signs collectively had over 1000 views and 250 participant engagements. Furthermore they sparked numerous conversations between neighbours about loneliness, fostering more community connections and the role the Library can play in addressing these issues.

Beyond these initial studies the Library plans to use the signage, and the research that informed their design, in future public engagement initiatives.

Client: Barbican & Community Library 
Commissioners: Helen Tremaine & Rachel Levy

Project Partner: Made By Play
Project Leads: Karl Toomey & Lizzie Reid  
3D Signage Design: Dean Brown with Karl & Lizzie
Photography: Dean Brown
Date: June 2021

In early June 2021 the Barbican & Community Library in association with Made By Play invited Karl Toomey & Lizzie Reid to embark on a research project exploring loneliness and the role a library could play in helping foster more community connections. The extensive research, conducted through workshops, surveys and phone calls with members of the community, explored the notion of ‘bumping spaces’ (Dr Roger Green, et al 2015) as a way of addressing social isolation in the City of London. 

Brown Office were invited to join this interdisciplinary team to concept, detail, build and install signage that captured aspects of this research and presented it back to the community as 3-Dimensional landmarks deployed within the ‘bumping spaces’ around the Barbican estate. Our collaborative approach envisioned a signage system that not only prioritises messaging and signposting, but also public participation.  

Each of the four signs we created were distinctively double sided - one side featuring a quote from a local community member, the other featuring an interaction relating to the quote. Over the course of a two day public study in June 2021 community members were invited to dialogue with the quotes through writing, drawing, photography and mark making. 

The signs were designed to be tonally approachable and informal, yet fit for outdoor use - composed of a timber construction with powder coated aluminium panels and weighted bases in the form of off-the-shelf buckets.  Composing the panels with ‘mismatched’ shapes in bold contrasting colours provided the opportunity to frame smaller shapes within larger shapes, as well as creating internal cut-outs to hold postcards, chalk and an instant camera.

Each sign has its own distinct colour-way and panel composition creating an overall impression of an eclectic and colourful family of sorts - each member with a unique character.  When deployed within the thoroughfares or ‘bumping spaces’ around the Barbican and Golden Lane the signage became a distinctive and approachable focal point that connected the Library to the community in a tangible and playful way. 

Day one of our study saw the signs deployed and used within Fortune Street Park, followed by the Barbican Highwalk on day two. During the two day study the four signs collectively had over 1000 views and 250 participant engagements. Furthermore they sparked numerous conversations between neighbours about loneliness, fostering more community connections and the role the Library can play in addressing these issues.

Beyond these initial studies the Library plans to use the signage, and the research that informed their design, in future public engagement initiatives.

Client: Barbican & Community Library 
Commissioners: Helen Tremaine & Rachel Levy

Project Partner: Made By Play
Project Leads: Karl Toomey & Lizzie Reid  
3D Signage Design: Dean Brown with Karl & Lizzie
Photography: Dean Brown
Date: June 2021

In early June 2021 the Barbican & Community Library in association with Made By Play invited Karl Toomey & Lizzie Reid to embark on a research project exploring loneliness and the role a library could play in helping foster more community connections. The extensive research, conducted through workshops, surveys and phone calls with members of the community, explored the notion of ‘bumping spaces’ (Dr Roger Green, et al 2015) as a way of addressing social isolation in the City of London. 

Brown Office were invited to join this interdisciplinary team to concept, detail, build and install signage that captured aspects of this research and presented it back to the community as 3-Dimensional landmarks deployed within the ‘bumping spaces’ around the Barbican estate. Our collaborative approach envisioned a signage system that not only prioritises messaging and signposting, but also public participation.  

Each of the four signs we created were distinctively double sided - one side featuring a quote from a local community member, the other featuring an interaction relating to the quote. Over the course of a two day public study in June 2021 community members were invited to dialogue with the quotes through writing, drawing, photography and mark making.  

 The signs were designed to be tonally approachable and informal, yet fit for outdoor use - composed of a timber construction with powder coated aluminium panels and weighted bases in the form of off-the-shelf buckets.  Composing the panels with ‘mismatched’ shapes in bold contrasting colours provided the opportunity to frame smaller shapes within larger shapes, as well as creating internal cut-outs to hold postcards, chalk and an instant camera.

Each sign has its own distinct colour-way and panel composition creating an overall impression of an eclectic and colourful family of sorts - each member with a unique character.  When deployed within the thoroughfares or ‘bumping spaces’ around the Barbican and Golden Lane the signage became a distinctive and approachable focal point that connected the Library to the community in a tangible and playful way.  

Day one of our study saw the signs deployed and used within Fortune Street Park, followed by the Barbican Highwalk on day two. During the two day study the four signs collectively had over 1000 views and 250 participant engagements. Furthermore they sparked numerous conversations between neighbours about loneliness, fostering more community connections and the role the Library can play in addressing these issues.

Beyond these initial studies the Library plans to use the signage, and the research that informed their design, in future public engagement initiatives.

Client: Barbican & Community Library 
Commissioners: Helen Tremaine & Rachel Levy

Project Partner: Made By Play
Project Leads: Karl Toomey & Lizzie Reid  
3D Signage Design: Dean Brown with Karl & Lizzie
Photography: Dean Brown
Date: June 2021

In early June 2021 the Barbican & Community Library in association with Made By Play invited Karl Toomey & Lizzie Reid to embark on a research project exploring loneliness and the role a library could play in helping foster more community connections. The extensive research, conducted through workshops, surveys and phone calls with members of the community, explored the notion of ‘bumping spaces’ (Dr Roger Green, et al 2015) as a way of addressing social isolation in the City of London. 

Brown Office were invited to join this interdisciplinary team to concept, detail, build and install signage that captured aspects of this research and presented it back to the community as 3-Dimensional landmarks deployed within the ‘bumping spaces’ around the Barbican estate. Our collaborative approach envisioned a signage system that not only prioritises messaging and signposting, but also public participation. 

Each of the four signs we created were distinctively double sided - one side featuring a quote from a local community member, the other featuring an interaction relating to the quote. Over the course of a two day public study in June 2021 community members were invited to dialogue with the quotes through writing, drawing, photography and mark making.  

The signs were designed to be tonally approachable and informal, yet fit for outdoor use - composed of a timber construction with powder coated aluminium panels and weighted bases in the form of off-the-shelf buckets.  Composing the panels with ‘mismatched’ shapes in bold contrasting colours provided the opportunity to frame smaller shapes within larger shapes, as well as creating internal cut-outs to hold postcards, chalk and an instant camera.

Each sign has its own distinct colour-way and panel composition creating an overall impression of an eclectic and colourful family of sorts - each member with a unique character.  When deployed within the thoroughfares or ‘bumping spaces’ around the Barbican and Golden Lane the signage became a distinctive and approachable focal point that connected the Library to the community in a tangible and playful way.  

Day one of our study saw the signs deployed and used within Fortune Street Park, followed by the Barbican Highwalk on day two. During the two day study the four signs collectively had over 1000 views and 250 participant engagements. Furthermore they sparked numerous conversations between neighbours about loneliness, fostering more community connections and the role the Library can play in addressing these issues.

Beyond these initial studies the Library plans to use the signage, and the research that informed their design, in future public engagement initiatives.

Client: Barbican & Community Library 
Commissioners: Helen Tremaine & Rachel Levy

Project Partner: Made By Play
Project Leads: Karl Toomey & Lizzie Reid  
3D Signage Design: Dean Brown with Karl & Lizzie
Photography: Dean Brown
Date: June 2021

In early June 2021 the Barbican & Community Library in association with Made By Play invited Karl Toomey & Lizzie Reid to embark on a research project exploring loneliness and the role a library could play in helping foster more community connections. The extensive research, conducted through workshops, surveys and phone calls with members of the community, explored the notion of ‘bumping spaces’ (Dr Roger Green, et al 2015) as a way of addressing social isolation in the City of London. 

Brown Office were invited to join this interdisciplinary team to concept, detail, build and install signage that captured aspects of this research and presented it back to the community as 3-Dimensional landmarks deployed within the ‘bumping spaces’ around the Barbican estate. Our collaborative approach envisioned a signage system that not only prioritises messaging and signposting, but also public participation.  

Each of the four signs we created were distinctively double sided - one side featuring a quote from a local community member, the other featuring an interaction relating to the quote. Over the course of a two day public study in June 2021 community members were invited to dialogue with the quotes through writing, drawing, photography and mark making.  

 The signs were designed to be tonally approachable and informal, yet fit for outdoor use - composed of a timber construction with powder coated aluminium panels and weighted bases in the form of off-the-shelf buckets.  Composing the panels with ‘mismatched’ shapes in bold contrasting colours provided the opportunity to frame smaller shapes within larger shapes, as well as creating internal cut-outs to hold postcards, chalk and an instant camera.

Each sign has its own distinct colour-way and panel composition creating an overall impression of an eclectic and colourful family of sorts - each member with a unique character.  When deployed within the thoroughfares or ‘bumping spaces’ around the Barbican and Golden Lane the signage became a distinctive and approachable focal point that connected the Library to the community in a tangible and playful way.  

Day one of our study saw the signs deployed and used within Fortune Street Park, followed by the Barbican Highwalk on day two. During the two day study the four signs collectively had over 1000 views and 250 participant engagements. Furthermore they sparked numerous conversations between neighbours about loneliness, fostering more community connections and the role the Library can play in addressing these issues.

Beyond these initial studies the Library plans to use the signage, and the research that informed their design, in future public engagement initiatives.

Client: Barbican & Community Library 
Commissioners: Helen Tremaine & Rachel Levy

Project Partner: Made By Play
Project Leads: Karl Toomey & Lizzie Reid  
3D Signage Design: Dean Brown with Karl & Lizzie
Photography: Dean Brown
Date: June 2021

In early June 2021 the Barbican & Community Library in association with Made By Play invited Karl Toomey & Lizzie Reid to embark on a research project exploring loneliness and the role a library could play in helping foster more community connections. The extensive research, conducted through workshops, surveys and phone calls with members of the community, explored the notion of ‘bumping spaces’ (Dr Roger Green, et al 2015) as a way of addressing social isolation in the City of London. 

Brown Office were invited to join this interdisciplinary team to concept, detail, build and install signage that captured aspects of this research and presented it back to the community as 3-Dimensional landmarks deployed within the ‘bumping spaces’ around the Barbican estate. Our collaborative approach envisioned a signage system that not only prioritises messaging and signposting, but also public participation.  

Each of the four signs we created were distinctively double sided - one side featuring a quote from a local community member, the other featuring an interaction relating to the quote. Over the course of a two day public study in June 2021 community members were invited to dialogue with the quotes through writing, drawing, photography and mark making.  

 The signs were designed to be tonally approachable and informal, yet fit for outdoor use - composed of a timber construction with powder coated aluminium panels and weighted bases in the form of off-the-shelf buckets.  Composing the panels with ‘mismatched’ shapes in bold contrasting colours provided the opportunity to frame smaller shapes within larger shapes, as well as creating internal cut-outs to hold postcards, chalk and an instant camera.

Each sign has its own distinct colour-way and panel composition creating an overall impression of an eclectic and colourful family of sorts - each member with a unique character.  When deployed within the thoroughfares or ‘bumping spaces’ around the Barbican and Golden Lane the signage became a distinctive and approachable focal point that connected the Library to the community in a tangible and playful way.  

Day one of our study saw the signs deployed and used within Fortune Street Park, followed by the Barbican Highwalk on day two. During the two day study the four signs collectively had over 1000 views and 250 participant engagements. Furthermore they sparked numerous conversations between neighbours about loneliness, fostering more community connections and the role the Library can play in addressing these issues.

Beyond these initial studies the Library plans to use the signage, and the research that informed their design, in future public engagement initiatives.

Client: Barbican & Community Library
Commissioners: Helen Tremaine & Rachel Levy

Project Partner: Made By Play
Project Leads: Karl Toomey & Lizzie Reid
3D Signage Design: Dean Brown with Karl & Lizzie
Photography: Dean Brown
Date: June 2021

In early June 2021 the Barbican & Community Library in association with Made By Play invited Karl Toomey & Lizzie Reid to embark on a research project exploring loneliness and the role a library could play in helping foster more community connections. The extensive research, conducted through workshops, surveys and phone calls with members of the community, explored the notion of ‘bumping spaces’ (Dr Roger Green, et al 2015) as a way of addressing social isolation in the City of London. 

Brown Office were invited to join this interdisciplinary team to concept, detail, build and install signage that captured aspects of this research and presented it back to the community as 3-Dimensional landmarks deployed within the ‘bumping spaces’ around the Barbican estate. Our collaborative approach envisioned a signage system that not only prioritises messaging and signposting, but also public participation.  

Each of the four signs we created were distinctively double sided - one side featuring a quote from a local community member, the other featuring an interaction relating to the quote. Over the course of a two day public study in June 2021 community members were invited to dialogue with the quotes through writing, drawing, photography and mark making.  

 The signs were designed to be tonally approachable and informal, yet fit for outdoor use - composed of a timber construction with powder coated aluminium panels and weighted bases in the form of off-the-shelf buckets.  Composing the panels with ‘mismatched’ shapes in bold contrasting colours provided the opportunity to frame smaller shapes within larger shapes, as well as creating internal cut-outs to hold postcards, chalk and an instant camera.

Each sign has its own distinct colour-way and panel composition creating an overall impression of an eclectic and colourful family of sorts - each member with a unique character.  When deployed within the thoroughfares or ‘bumping spaces’ around the Barbican and Golden Lane the signage became a distinctive and approachable focal point that connected the Library to the community in a tangible and playful way.  

Day one of our study saw the signs deployed and used within Fortune Street Park, followed by the Barbican Highwalk on day two. During the two day study the four signs collectively had over 1000 views and 250 participant engagements. Furthermore they sparked numerous conversations between neighbours about loneliness, fostering more community connections and the role the Library can play in addressing these issues.

Beyond these initial studies the Library plans to use the signage, and the research that informed their design, in future public engagement initiatives.

Client: Barbican & Community Library
Commissioners: Helen Tremaine & Rachel Levy
Project Partner: Made By Play
Project Leads: Karl Toomey & Lizzie Reid
3D Signage Design: Dean Brown with Karl & Lizzie
Photography: Dean Brown
Date: June 2021

In early June 2021 the Barbican & Community Library in association with Made By Play invited Karl Toomey & Lizzie Reid to embark on a research project exploring loneliness and the role a library could play in helping foster more community connections. The extensive research, conducted through workshops, surveys and phone calls with members of the community, explored the notion of ‘bumping spaces’ (Dr Roger Green, et al 2015) as a way of addressing social isolation in the City of London. 

Brown Office were invited to join this interdisciplinary team to concept, detail, build and install signage that captured aspects of this research and presented it back to the community as 3-Dimensional landmarks deployed within the ‘bumping spaces’ around the Barbican estate. Our collaborative approach envisioned a signage system that not only prioritises messaging and signposting, but also public participation.  

Each of the four signs we created were distinctively double sided - one side featuring a quote from a local community member, the other featuring an interaction relating to the quote. Over the course of a two day public study in June 2021 community members were invited to dialogue with the quotes through writing, drawing, photography and mark making.  

 The signs were designed to be tonally approachable and informal, yet fit for outdoor use - composed of a timber construction with powder coated aluminium panels and weighted bases in the form of off-the-shelf buckets.  Composing the panels with ‘mismatched’ shapes in bold contrasting colours provided the opportunity to frame smaller shapes within larger shapes, as well as creating internal cut-outs to hold postcards, chalk and an instant camera.

Each sign has its own distinct colour-way and panel composition creating an overall impression of an eclectic and colourful family of sorts - each member with a unique character.  When deployed within the thoroughfares or ‘bumping spaces’ around the Barbican and Golden Lane the signage became a distinctive and approachable focal point that connected the Library to the community in a tangible and playful way.  

Day one of our study saw the signs deployed and used within Fortune Street Park, followed by the Barbican Highwalk on day two. During the two day study the four signs collectively had over 1000 views and 250 participant engagements. Furthermore they sparked numerous conversations between neighbours about loneliness, fostering more community connections and the role the Library can play in addressing these issues.

Beyond these initial studies the Library plans to use the signage, and the research that informed their design, in future public engagement initiatives.