Dissertation presentation pdf

My question: To what extent can physical and mental well-being be positively effected through design?

What I’m doing - Exploring the relationship between graphic design regarding physical and mental wellbeing.

- Primary research which will involve case studies which will explore emotional response to certain designs and the affect is has to certain products and issues individually. As well as interacting with those involved within industry and involved with both design and health care as well as wellbeing.

- Secondary research looking at visual examples of effective design in different formats such as packaging, way finding, environmental design, advertisements etc and the impact created as well as studies and academic work exploring this in more detail.

Why its important Regarding wellbeing both mentally and physically there is a need for affective communication for different issues, whether that involves presenting important information in a certain manner, or creating a positive emotional response using certain design techniques.

Packaging Cigarettes have had a variety of approaches considered in order to reduce the amount of people that use them. It is unique in this way as the product itself incudes design which directly advises against using it.

In this there is an opportunity to use this as an effective platform. Opening the question of whether this could be appropriate within other products and what the effect would be if there was this possibility?

Reducing the ‘attraction’ of packaging with the lack of design has proven to be affective.

However the forceful and graphic imagery of packaging is another approach that has been used to reduce smoking as well, proving that there is more than one way to visually effectively approach an issue.

Environment

This imagery was created for a children’s hospital. The colour choice and playful design were proven to create ease for young patients.

Environment How use of colour, shape and space can be used to create a positive response within a stressful environment and how it can improve well being. The concept of this design was for young patients to feel more comfortable.

Posing the question of how important the role of graphic design plays within healthcare.

Print Switch is a health and wellness print campaign designed to address health and wellness with young children. The kit centers around a day by day activity planner designed to help participants, Â develop healthy eating habits,. It includes, a card system for tracking media consumption, stickers and scorecards to reward positive actions and behaviour. Â

Further research

Book 1 Healthy by design - Communicating non-verbal health cues through symbolic meaning in packaging

The visual design of food packages shapes consumer perception and judgment of important content. Focusing on two core design elements with typeface and color, this academic work demonstrates that visual cues created or a lack of influence consumers’ healthiness perceptions.

Book 2 Wayfinding for health seeking: Exploring how hospital wayfinding can employ communication design to improve the outpatient experience

This project addresses and resolves the issues of a hospital and how the environment itself can be stressful, the vulnerabilities that this can create within patients health means that there is a greater need for meaningful communication.