Zamenhof Institute

Mobbing and sexual violence in the workplace are still a reality for many Polish women. The Zamenhof Institute decided to shed light on this issue in a report titled "Offtherecord: Sexual Harassment of Journalists in Poland." Together with the Tech To The Rescue foundation, we had the privilege to support the Institute in raising awareness about sexual violence in Polish media.

havenocode's scope of work included the overall graphic concept, as well as the design and implementation of the website where the report could be downloaded as a PDF file and where journalists' testimonies, who had experienced or witnessed sexual violence, could be read. The platform's primary purpose was to amplify the impact of the report, facilitate discussions, and engage stakeholders in finding solutions to the problem of sexual harassment in the media industry.

UI Design

Striking minimalism

Challenges: strengthening the message of the website through original design choices, simplicity and clarity, animations, dedicated illustrations.

The Zamenhof Institute entrusted us with full artistic direction for the project, which was executed by our UX/UI team with additional support from an illustrator we invited to join the collaboration.

We began by conducting an in-depth analysis to understand the goals, challenges, and expected outcomes of the OffTheRecord campaign. This process helped us tailor our approach and ensure that the platform would meet the Institute’s needs.

Our UX/UI team worked closely with the client to design an intuitive and visually compelling platform aligned with the campaign’s core message. Havenocode’s art direction played a key role in shaping the visual identity of the platform and became the foundation for all creative communication in the project.

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OffTheRecord

“If someone says something off the record, they do not want it to be publicly reported.”
— dictionary.cambridge.org

For the campaign, we created a short, powerful, and thought-provoking title. Drawing from media jargon, it subtly yet sharply reflects the situation of women journalists who, for years, were pressured by the media industry to remain silent about sexual violence they experienced or witnessed.
The title “Off the record” was accepted by the client without any changes and became the leading message of the entire report.

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WEBDESIGN

The UI design was inspired by printed press and media aesthetics: news tickers, camera indicators, tabloid-style headlines. The color palette is minimalist yet bold and contrasting, consisting mainly of graphite, pure white, greys, and a pale red accent. The look is further strengthened by combining oversized sans-serif headline typography with monotype paragraph fonts—an intentional nod to traditional mass media.

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ILLUSTRATIONS

For this project, we invited Jarek Mankiewicz, a graphic designer, illustrator, and animator currently based in Lisbon. His expressive style and clear, non-pathetic message perfectly complemented the artistic direction, adding depth and character to the project.

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DEVELOPMENT

Awakening emotions

We built the platform in Webflow, creating a responsive and user-friendly no-code website. Our QA team ensured that functionality, performance, and user experience met the highest standards.

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TOOLS

The website was developed in just a few days. We used Webflow and, in selected animations, enhanced it with JavaScript and CSS. Beyond the visual layer, we created a CMS for dynamic management of homepage and subpage interviews, as well as profiles of people involved in the initiative. The site was implemented with great attention to responsiveness and seamless display on mobile devices.

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ANIMATIONS & INTERACTIONS

To draw users into the content, build atmosphere, and support the emotional weight of the report and victim interviews, we used subtle yet impactful animations that set the tone and introduced key elements of the page.

We leveraged Webflow’s native interaction features, extending them with custom JavaScript and CSS where needed to achieve the desired experience.

A drop hollows the stone

The media industry is only the tip of the iceberg. Psychological and physical violence, mobbing, and sexual abuse—both at work and in private life—are a devastating daily reality for many women in Poland, regardless of their profession. For decades, these issues were not spoken about at all. Now is the time to speak loudly and clearly.

We are honored to have been invited to take part in a project of such deep social importance, contributing to the much-needed cultural and societal change in our country.

Working with the Zamenhof Institute was an exceptional experience for us. The trust we were given sparked a powerful wave of creativity and made every stage of the work even more meaningful. Each team member approached the project with genuine personal engagement.

The OffTheRecord report received significant media attention in Poland, triggering a wave of comments, discussions, and press publications. We hope it brings the long-awaited change.