Last Fall, @Grindr took a risk. In an age of influencer marketing — a strategy of showcasing your most loyal (or famous) fans — the popular queer (and oldest!) dating app decided to do the opposite. They selected representatives from the communities most discriminated against on their app and gave them a soapbox. Literally.

The Kindr campaign, as it was called, aimed to raise awareness amongst the app’s broader user base about the effects of hateful words and prejudice on the platform. By putting a face to the people on the other side of the screen, it hoped awareness would be a first step towards empathy and, in turn, kindness. The campaign was risky and rule-breaking but has gone on to be award-winning.

In November, we sat down with Matt Brooks who worked on @Grindr's Kindr campaign. Tune in to hear the how's and why's of how their small, scrappy team made such an impactful campaign.