Mindworks 2016

2016

MINDWORKS

MINDWORKS

This project is connected to the South African Depression and Anxiety group;SADAG, which caters to the greater South African community as a much needed national resource to help in matters of mental health and to destigmatise mental illness. It has rural outreach programmes, teen suicide prevention, helplines, substance abuse education and mental health support groups.

THE BRIEFThis is the third year of involvement and Graphic Design students were tasked to make mental profile artworks that represented mental health and their understanding of it. These would be used in the campaign for Mental Health Month and for educational and awareness purposes. Posters relating to teen suicide and mental health in general as well as information graphics were also required.

THE BRIEF

Interior Design students were tasked to refine and scale down the design for the outreach unit in Diepsloot concentrating on the exterior space.

THE PROCESS

As an introduction to the project students were briefed by SADAG as to their main requirements; namely posters on teen suicide and mental health awareness posters, information graphics on teen suicide, substance abuse and anxiety as well as the refinement of the outreach unit in Diepsloot.

Students visited the SADAG call centre in Rivonia and the outreach unit in Diepsloot to get a better understanding of the context of the work that SADAG does in the community.

At the call centre in Rivonia the students interviewed the volunteers and gained insight into the needs of the users and SADAG’s support to the community. This was important in the design of the information graphics and the mental profile artworks.

THE PROCESSIn addition students were instructed to illustrate , document and journal their own understanding of mental health issues.In some respects students in the group were themselves a community in this project.

THE OUTPUTS

MNNJ- tasked to make information graphics and posters on a variety of mental health issues. Mental Stealth- Students designed information graphics on teen suicide.Font Feeling-Designed posters using typographic handmade sculptures to highlight the feelings and words that represent mental health issues.

One Interior Design subgroup;Space of Hope-Students designed a scaled downexterior space that conveyed a sense of hope. This concept included painted rocks communicating messages of hope and a small flower sculpture as well a small hanging garden. Plants and a treewere planted to add an aesthetic and colourful dimension to the space.

Three Sub groups;

THE OUTPUTSMNNJ- tasked to make information graphics and posteron a variety of mental health issues.

MNNJ

Posters on suicide for the elderly

THE OUTPUTS

Posters for Teen Suicide

THE OUTPUTS

THE OUTPUTSMental Health Awareness Posters

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THE OUTPUTS

THE OUTPUTSMental Stealth

information Graphics

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THE OUTPUTSMental Stealthinformation Graphics

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THE OUTPUTSMental Stealthinformation Graphics Teen Suicide

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THE OUTPUTSMental StealthMental Health Posters

THE OUTPUTSFont Feeling – Students designed posters from hand made scuptures of typographic words based on concepts of mental health.Typographic Mental Health Posters

THE OUTPUTSFont FeelingTypographic Mental Health Posters

THE OUTPUTSFont FeelingTypographic Mental Health Posters

THE OUTPUTSFont FeelingTypographic Mental Health Posters

THE OUTPUTSSpace of Hope –Students designed upliftment of the SADAG outreach site in Diepsloot.The Garden Space

THE OUTPUTSSpace of Hope –Students designed upliftment of the SADAG outreach site in Diepsloot.

THE OUTPUTSSpace of Hope –Students designed upliftment of the SADAG outreach site in Diepsloot.“Rocks of Hope”

EVALUATION

This project entails very complex and sensitive subject matter, which the students handled with maturity and genuine interest. To the point where they took the initiative to make additional posters such suicide in the elderly and ADHD as well as rape trauma. Unfortunately SADAG does not directly address this in their services. These however can be given to affiliate organisations.

EVALUATION

I think the benefit for the students themselves was enormous. They became the secondary beneficiaries of a community project. Gaining empathy and new insights into mental health. As SADAG deals with the youth, this is of great impact in raising awareness on mental health and hence disseminates the very important work they do.The posters and information graphics are important in that they are used by journalists to spread the mental health issues to the greater South African community and medical health professionals.

THANKS

Many thanks to Naazia, Anne, Thabo and most importantly to Zane Wilson for the very important work they do and the contribution to a very serious subject that affects us all.