The first women’s health textbook designed to be smuggled into prison.
CONTRABANNED
THE PROBLEM
Women’s prisons routinely ban health textbooks, labeling anatomical illustrations as “pornographic.” Meanwhile, men’s facilities face no such restrictions.
As a result, incarcerated women are forced to navigate serious medical conditions without reliable information — increasing preventable risk.
So we created Contrabanned.
A women’s health textbook engineered to bypass prison censorship — legally smuggling vital information inside.
A textbook smuggled into prison as letters and stitched together by inmates.
THE INSIGHT
While censors review books that are mailed to inmates, individual letters are not reviewed.
So we broke our textbook apart.
Contrabanned was mailed letter by letter — each envelope containing four pages. Inside, women assembled the book themselves using only materials available in commissary: toothpicks and dental floss (sold in 6-inch segments to prevent strangulation).
THE ACCESSIBILITY LAYER
Contrabanned is written to directly address the health concerns of incarcerated women.
70% of incarcerated women read below a fourth-grade level.
So we partnered with health literacy experts to write the book in clear, accessible language — ensuring the information wasn’t just delivered, but understood.
THE IMPACT
Shared by hand. Copied 241 times. Recognized globally.
“Thank you for being one of none, who actually cares about our right to have knowledge about our bodies.”
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Grand Clio: Art Direction (Design Craft)
Gold Clio: Health Equity
Silver Clio: Creative Strategy
Cannes Lions Shortlist (2x)
Ad Age Creativity: Best Work for Good
Manny Awards: Best Philanthropic Campaign