The studio works on a range of not-for-profit causes simply because we feel we are in a privileged position – making a living from doing something that we love.

Dreamed up and realised by UK chef Jamie Oliver in London in 2002, Fifteen in Melbourne is championed by chef Tobie Puttock. Along with Stephen from Spicers Paper we donated our design services to develop this sponsorship tool for the Fifteen Foundation in Melbourne. We then asked Earl Carter (photography), Andrew Pegler (writing) and Gunn & Taylor (printing) to pitch in their services too. Together we produced a sponsor document that assists the Fifteen Foundation with attracting sponsorship for their hospitality and cooking apprenticeship programme for displaced and under privileged young people.

The project came together from nothing.

First we developed a strategic approach – inviting potential sponsors to make a difference.

We then developed a theme – Everyone has a vision of marginalised young people – typically looking down and on the street; we wanted show these young people in the best possible light, up to their arm pits in work and getting on with their new career – which is the point of the Fifteen programme. Around this theme we briefed Earl Carter to come up with a pictorial essay of the apprentices in the kitchen doing their stuff. Earl delivered a selection of honest and lively, black white images.

The design and writing was then applied to compliment the pictorial essay. We felt a spare and practical layout and graphic treatment was appropriate. Sometimes not-for-profit projects can become too elaborate and overwhelming, which can compromise their purpose. This project isn’t about winning awards and pleasing the style critics – this document is being pitched at corporate organisations and we wanted to develop a story about the Fifteen Foundation that is clear, compelling, factual, attractive to sponsors and showed where the sponsor dollars are going.

To train one apprentice in the programme costs around $50,000. We hope that the care, design, communication and manufacturing invested in project assists Fifteen raise millions of dollars in the future. Thanks again to Stephen and Spicers Paper for entrusting us with this project.

If you want to make a difference, make your next lunch or dinner reservation at Fifteen. For bookings contact Fifteen Melbourne here.

Visit the Fifteen Foundation here.