How can the identity of an NGO be embodied through a character or mascot? This question is at the heart of my postdoctoral research titled Personification and Incarnation in the Creation of an NGO: A Transdisciplinary Applied Research, conducted under the direction of Professor Karoline Truchon at the University of Quebec in Outaouais and financially supported by the Outaouais Higher Education Cluster.
Article’s thumbnail: Photo by Osama Madlom on Unsplash
Research Context
This project is part of the creation of an NGO aimed at fighting malnutrition in Côte d’Ivoire. The student, Godefroy Doua Sienfonda, wishes to develop a strong identity for his organization by using a character or mascot as a communication medium. This initiative, supported by the University of Quebec in Outaouais, the Outaouais Higher Education Cluster, and the Cégep de l’Outaouais, presents both theoretical and practical challenges regarding how to personify an institutional entity.
Issues and Objectives
The objective of this research is to examine how the embodiment of a character can simultaneously:
- Represent the NGO’s identity by transmitting its values and mission.
- Convince and persuade future donors by creating a strong emotional connection.
- Establish intimacy with beneficiaries to promote adhesion and engagement.
Far from being a simple design or communication exercise, this applied research questions the complexity of the visual and symbolic representation of a humanitarian organization.
A Transdisciplinary Approach
This project crosses several disciplines to propose an innovative and adapted approach to the specific needs of the NGO:
- Theater: To explore the performative and immersive dimensions of the character in public and digital spaces.
- Pedagogical Engineering: To design a training program around the use of the character in communication.
- Communication: To analyze the strategies for engaging audiences through an embodied figure.
- Art Studies and Practices: To understand the aesthetic and narrative challenges linked to the creation of the character.
Conclusion
Through this research, my goal is to highlight the complex issues related to the embodiment of a character in the context of creating an NGO. This work not only contributes to studies in communication and artistic practices but also opens new perspectives on the impact of embodied figures in social and humanitarian engagement.