Critical Context 1

Independent Project

Introduction

Mental illness is a mental disorder that almost everyone encounters in their lifetime. It pays a different impact based on different illnesses on different people. One of the reasons people don’t seek professional help is due to the stigma around mental health. Stigma impacts not only those who suffer from mental illness, but also the people that support them, which often includes family members. The stigma around mental illnesses is particularly prevalent in several varied racial and cultural communities, and it can also be a significant barrier to people that are seeking mental health treatments. Seeking professional care for mental illness, for example, may run against traditional norms of strong family, emotional restraint, and avoiding shame in various Asian cultures (Borenstein, 2020). As a result of improved societal and cultural sympathetic perspective on mental health, this study aims to further educate people about how design pays an impact in helping people that are dealing with mental issues. It mainly emphasizes various mental illnesses, self-doubts and reminders, basically reminding them to find happiness when they are in the middle of internal chaos. 

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Research Methods

The primary goal of this project aims to address how mental illness affects an individual and to promote a mental well-being for the mental sufferers. As a designer, it is the researcher’s intention to make a move in promoting a mental health promotion which improves psychological well-being. In order to achieve a better context, this study will provide designers with a better understanding through the results compiled from the people that are directly or indirectly affected by mental illness. Therefore, one of the research methodologies that will be used in this project is through primary research. Through the survey results that have been sent out, it allows the researcher to acknowledge the effect of suffering with mental illnesses such as a better understanding of people that are dealing with mental illness, in terms of what mental problems that they face, how they deal with it, and etc. Information would also be collected through interviews. Interviews would be conducted with the interviewee through online platforms or questionnaires. The mental sufferers would be able to express themselves with their feelings, emotions and experiences. Moving on to a more in depth understanding of mental issues, secondary research will also be held. To improve the overall effectiveness of research, existing data is summarised and compiled and to be observed. All of the information will then be gathered and proceed as the direction of the outcome. 
 

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Brief

“A connection with design in contributing to a common good”. For this project, the researcher intends to produce a visual concept to communicate the idea of using designs as a way of raising awareness towards mental issues. Based on my previous research, the mental sufferers might find difficulties to come forward and seek help due to the stigma associated with mental illnesses and the fear of losing their jobs, friends, and other meaningful relationships  (Borenstein, 2020). In some instances, the fear prompts the mental sufferers to isolate themselves, resulting in more negative impacts on their mental and physical health. Understanding the fear and what causes the people to lead to mental illnesses, it allows designers to obtain a deeper understanding of how people think about and react to anxiety and depression, as well as how mental illness has influenced them. Therefore, understanding what causes mental illness and what it leads to allows designers to make decisions on how to approach potential solutions. An experimentation book will be produced in order to showcase mental health issues. This project would be categorised under experimental and discursive design. For instance, the visuals consist of using metaphors as design, experimenting with daily life objects to approach the targeted audience. Moreover as a designer, the design activist allows the project to be a voice for change and awareness towards mental well-being. 

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Target Audience

According to research, 13 percent of the world's population suffers from mental issues (SingleCare Team, 2021). As now with the COVID-19 pandemic going on, it has increased the amount of people that are facing mental health issues. In order to support mental well-being, the targeted audiences for this project are university students, aged between 18 to 24. The reason this group of people was chosen is because they have the greatest potential for impact. University students are the group of people that are mostly facing and experiencing numerous changes such as changes from environment, financial, social and academic. Those changes might eventually turn into illnesses that affect their mental health. These can sometimes result in mental issues if they are not acknowledged and managed well. Besides, university students are more aware and up to date towards things or news that are happening around them. Therefore there will be more potential as them being the targeted audience in raising awareness. 

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Deliverables

The output that is intended to be produced by the researcher is through publication (Experimentation Book). Publication is a touch point where it will be located in areas where most humans ingest the most of the visual information. As a student, the researcher strongly believed that printed contents are much more attractive and efficient than digitized contents. According to research (Barshay, 2019) as well, students of all ages tend to acquire more information while reading on a physical book rather than on a screen. Through publication, graphic design can help boost in engaging readers, inform, educate, persuade and raise awareness to the target audiences. This publication book mainly explores the impact of design for a mental well-being. 

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1. Experimentation Book

• Experimenting with daily life objects. 

• Consisting of text and images to create a new way of connecting design with mental issues.

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External Project

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Introduction

For far too long, mental health has been veiled in shame and prejudice. Society's stereotypical notions about mental illness and how it affects people has led to the mental sufferers being reluctant to seek help. Hence, the stigma around mental health has been one of the reasons that people don't seek professional help, and rather keep everything to themselves. During these recent years, the world has become more aware of this burden and the potential of improved mental health (World Health Organisation (WHO), 2020). Whereas, self-care can still play a significant role in improving mental well-being. Self-care is having the ability to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and to cope with illnesses and disability with or without the assistance of a healthcare provider (World Health Organisation (WHO), 2020). According to research, self-care promotes favourable health outcomes such as promoting resilience, living longer, and enhancing mental management skills (Lawler, 2020) as well as increasing the ability to manage mental issues (Williams et al., 2010).  In order to let the mental sufferers know the importance of self-care, this project aims to regenerate the healthy minds of the mental sufferers by further educating them about the importance of expressing themselves through the help of design.
 

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Research Methods

The primary goal of this project aims to promote a mental well-being with the help of love and happiness for the mental sufferers. As a designer, it is the researcher’s intention to make a move in promoting a mental health promotion which improves psychological well-being. In order to achieve a better context, this study will provide designers with a better understanding through the results compiled from the people that are directly or indirectly affected by mental illness. Therefore, one of the research methodologies that will be used in this project is through primary research. Through the survey results that have been sent out, it allows the researcher to acknowledge the effect of suffering with mental illnesses such as a better understanding of people that are dealing with mental illness, in terms of what mental problems that they face, how they deal with it, and etc. Information would also be collected through interviews. Interviews would be conducted with the interviewee through online platforms or questionnaires. The mental sufferers would be able to express themselves with their feelings, emotions and experiences. Moving on to a more in depth understanding of mental issues, secondary research will also be held. To improve the overall effectiveness of research, existing data is summarised and compiled and to be observed. All of the information will then be gathered and proceed as the direction of the outcome. 

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Brief

For my external project, Taiwan International Student Design Competition (TISDC) was chosen for the competition. The theme of this competition is “Regenerate”. The main concept of this project aims to regenerate the healthy minds of an individual through the help of design. People are highly encouraged to practice self-care. It is basically another way of healing from mental illnesses, but in a more private way. For instance, colourful designs and inspirational quotes are utilized in boosting positivity to a mental sufferer. Love and happiness is the main goal that the researcher intends to bring out through the help of design. The medium used for this project will be designs for packaging and a handbook. Besides, the output is designed to approach the university students in colleges or universities to raise awareness on regenerating a healthy mind through self-care. This project will be categorised under responsible and commercial design. This project mainly focuses on helping to raise awareness about the importance of self-care, solving social issues. While for commercial design, the designed packaging for the products are in a broad spectrum of colours to attract and enhance the user’s overall emotions, feelings, and behaviours.
 

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Target Audience

According to research, 13 percent of the world's population suffers from mental issues (SingleCare Team, 2021). As now with the COVID-19 pandemic going on, it has increased the amount of people that are facing mental health issues. In order to support mental well-being, the targeted audiences for this project are university students, aged between 18 to 24. The reason this group of people was chosen is because they have the greatest potential for impact. University students are the group of people that are mostly facing and experiencing numerous changes such as changes from environment, financial, social and academic. Those changes might eventually turn into illnesses that affect their mental health. These can sometimes result in mental issues if they are not acknowledged and managed well. Besides, university students are more aware and up to date towards things or news that are happening around them. Therefore there will be more potential as them being the targeted audience in raising awareness. 

Deliverables

The output that is intended to be produced by the researcher is a self-care kit. A self-care kit is a collection of various items in a box that helps to boost positivity with the help of love and happiness. As mentioned, the stigma around mental illness has much affected the mental sufferers to resist from seeking professional help. Hence, the best thing that university students could do for themselves is to practice self-care with a self-care kit. The items are designed in such a way that it is able to let the mental sufferers relax themselves or get distracted from their mind for a period of time. The items in the self-care kit can be personalized based on the individual. In such a way, at the same time of not needing to be afraid of seeking help which causes stigma, they can also find a way to heal themselves. 

1. Self-care kit 

• Consisting of different items (merch) that helps the targeted audience to release their inner self that they are not willing to open up to people or express it verbally. 

• Merch in designs that help to boost positivity to the targeted audience.

2. Self-care handbook 

• A handbook that provides information on the purpose of a self-care kit and the items that are included.

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