This is an ongoing project as part of my thesis for Social Design Masters, at the Design Academy Eindhoven
First point of research is really what I see as health. I have chosen to work around the World Health Organization Definition, which although old I feel is very relevant today.“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” There is an increasing amount of holistic medicine and psychotherapy in Western medicine. What I am looking into is creating a more balanced approach to health.
My starting point was to look at the state of Health now, what illnesses and diseases are prevalent and what is being done. With this were three sub sections Drug Use and Holistic Medicine and Health Literacy. What I am looking for is if design along with Medicine can increase Health, so physical, mental and social well-being.
To move this forward I have created products as exercises to uncover what it is that is at the core of this project. Below are the outcomes so far, some more successful than others.
Body Awareness/ Lifestyle Awareness
How long does it take you to heal a cut finger? What works best for you if you have a common cold? The How I Heal, and How I Eat notebooks are really ways of monitoring your healing and your food choices.
The How I Heal notebook is really just a reference for the anyone interested in finding out how they heal. Rarely do we take time to document our illnesses, more likely to try to ignore or avoid it waiting for it to be over.
Alternative Prescription
Yearly there are over 1.9 billion drugs ordered or distributed by the U.S Health system alone. The problem is, prescription drugs don’t treat diseases; they merely cover the symptoms. U.S. physicians provide allopathic health care – that is, they care for disease, not health. So, the over-prescription of drugs and medications is designed to treat disease instead of preventing it.
Nutrition is a definitely a vital part of good health, and over the last 20 years it has become increasing complex and difficult to understand. With all these new developments and contradicting studies in nutritional science how can the correct information be made accessible and understandable?
One test was just showing the quantities to people for example 8 walnuts deliver enough Omega 3 to help the brain function optimally. 30 Blueberries have enough antioxidants to boost or improve circulation.
Old Time Medicine
Most people don’t have time for sickness. In fact many people try to use as few sick days as possible, meaning they contaminate kindergartens, workplaces and schools. Alterntively if you become sick and choose to stay at home you may find you have a lot of time. Boredom often sets in with illness. How can design promote spending time in bed recovering? Provide distraction and perhaps social interaction?
Above is a range of test distraction blankets to be used when someone is sick. They can incorporate medical facts, fun games, skills tests a and other activities. Aim of these is to take up time. The silk screen technique lends itself to thermo chromatic, puff, and glow in the dark inks. By using washable markers the blanket can be cleaned and reused.
Playful Health Literacy
In the U.S, CDC Research has shown that almost nine out of 10 adults in the U.S. struggle to follow routine medical advice. To top that only 12 percent of English-speaking adults in this country are proficient in understanding medical information.
With all the information out there, how can you teach something on a basic and playful level. Cement good habits into routines and lifestyles?In this case how do you raise awareness about kidney health and water consumption.
Brain Food
Brain muffin or Pâté mold with recipes.
What better way to remember that nuts or fish are good for your brain then to serve them in a brain shaped format. Not only will you remember but so will your friends, coworkers an family. A simple strategy to get attention to nutritional health literacy. Also delicious.
What the Doctor Ordered
Up to 80% of patients forget what their doctor said as soon as they leave the doctor’s office Nearly 50% of what patients remember is recalled incorrectly. A small document to help patients write down and remember what their doctor told them. Including medication, nutrition and lifestyle factors.
Prescribing Lifestyle
Investigating new ways of creating prescriptions and enhancing patient doctor communication.
