PB Studio was commissioned by Carlow Regional Youth Services, Carlow County Council and Healthy Carlow to design and facilitate a youth-led creative project focused on substance abuse awareness. Working with a group of teenagers in Carlow, we designed and hosted a hands-on workshop where young people shaped the messaging, concepts, and visual direction for a series of posters aimed at their own age group.

- Designed and facilitated a youth-led creative workshop for Carlow County Council and Healthy Carlow
- Worked with a group of 14 teenagers in Carlow
- Applied the Lundy Model to ensure meaningful participation and influence throughout
- Guided the group through the What, Who, How, and Why of substance abuse messaging
- Supported open discussion around substance use in a safe and respectful environment
- Led hands-on poster-making sessions where all concepts and visuals were created by participants
- Used techniques such as the squint test to assess impact and visibility
- Maintained the integrity of youth input from concept to final design
- Refined and delivered three final posters based directly on participant ideas
- Produced campaign-ready artwork suitable for public awareness use
Case Study: Carlow Regional Youth Services, Carlow County Council & Healthy Carlow
Designing Youth Led Substance Abuse Awareness Posters
The Challenge
Carlow Regional Youth Services, Carlow County Council and Healthy Carlow wanted to address substance abuse in a way that genuinely resonated with teenagers. Rather than producing top-down messaging, the goal was to involve young people directly in shaping the campaign, ensuring the language, visuals, and ideas felt authentic and impactful.
The challenge was to:
- Create a safe and supportive space for honest discussion
- Empower young people to lead the creative direction
- Maintain the integrity of their ideas from start to finish
- Deliver professional campaign materials suitable for public use
- Balance education, creativity, and wellbeing throughout the process
The Workshop Approach
PB Studio designed and facilitated a full-day workshop with a group of 14 teenagers in Carlow, using the Lundy Model to guide participation. This ensured young people were given space, voice, audience, and influence throughout the project.
The workshop was structured around four key questions:
- What is substance abuse and how does it show up in everyday life
- Who are we talking to, focusing specifically on peers of their own age
- How do we communicate in a way that feels real and not preachy
- Why should someone their age care about this message
Through group discussion, visual exercises, and poster-making activities, participants explored ideas openly and collaboratively. Every concept, symbol, phrase, and visual cue was generated by the group themselves.
A key moment in the process was the squint test. Posters were placed at a distance and viewed as a passer-by would see them. The group discussed whether each design was strong enough to stop someone, draw them in, and make them want to read more.
The Creative Outcomes
The group decided to develop three distinct posters, each tackling substance abuse from a different perspective.
- Get High on Life
  A positive, empowering message encouraging young people to choose life, purpose, and connection. The group introduced an ironic visual twist by using a poppy flower, playing on expectations while reinforcing the message in a memorable way.
- Everyone Knows
  A poster focused on reputational damage, featuring an all-eyes-on-you concept. The central eye appears dark and unhappy, reflecting the pressure, judgement, and lasting impact that substance use can have on how others see you.
- Popcorn Lung
  A striking visual highlighting the physical consequences of vaping. The group designed an image of popcorn bursting from a lung, using shock and clarity to communicate a serious message quickly and powerfully.
Every element of these posters came directly from the participants through the workshop process. PB Studio’s role was to guide, refine, and translate their ideas into finished designs without diluting their intent.
The Results
The final posters are bold, thought-provoking, and unmistakably youth led. Feedback from Carlow Regional Youth Services, Carlow County Council and Healthy Carlow highlighted the strength of the facilitation process and the authenticity of the outcomes.
Key outcomes include:
- Three impactful posters designed entirely from youth input
- High engagement and ownership from participants
- Messaging that speaks peer to peer rather than authority to youth
- A process that combined learning, creativity, and wellbeing
- Campaign materials suitable for real-world public use
Key Takeaway
This project demonstrates the power of designing with young people, not for them. By using a structured, rights-based approach and maintaining the integrity of participant voices at every stage, PB Studio helped turn honest conversations into meaningful, effective awareness campaigns.