Feedback

Following the experimentations feedback was gained before experimenting with screen printing the design. In terms of the overall designs, many comments were made that the design was simplistic. Although these comments could be taken in a positive and more constructive way, once discussed further it was identified that the simplicity of the design allows for each of the detailed elements to be taken in rather than it being an overload of visuals. This was therefore a comment that was ignored and the decided design being taken forward to print. 

Adjustments were made to the type size after being encouraged to have it as suitable as possible for screen printing. This meant the type needs to be 12pt and above to successfully screen print. 

Direction Focus

From the feedback after the presentation of the research carried out so far, it was highlighted that the project needed a more specific focus. After completing further, more varied research, the decision has been made to focus on the information available to carers. So far there has been limited information found for the carers and how they can help, as well as the support that is available for them. This is something that needs to be addressed due to the importance of these individuals who surround a person who is suffering from mental health issues.

So far it has been identified that the majority of the information available is received through contacting another individual, either by phone or in person, or by reading lengthy documents on the internet. An individual seeking this information may not feel confident in doing so and therefore receiving information in this way may not be the most successful methods. 
Through further research it has also been identified that being creative can help with an individual's symptoms of mental health, as well as it being said to relax and calm an individual's thoughts. This may be an avenue to explore when addressing the carer of an individual with mental health. 

As each of the identification factors that have lead to the problem are presented through the information given out by the charity Mind, the outcome is going to be made for the charity. The outcome will therefore be something that is advertised and supported by the charity. 

Communication

This is a documentation of one of the communication methods we used as a collaboration group. 

Discussion:

Although many of the designs decisions were made through verbal communication, this was not always possible. Through the use of social media messaging we were able to discuss idea developments as well as any queries/clarifications that we had when not working together. 

Organisation: 

To manage our organisation we used a shared iCloud calendar as well as discussing meet ups in the shared chat. This meant that we were able to document when the print slots were and ensure that the outcomes were designed in time to print. 

 Feedback:

As well as gaining feedback from peers we also gave feedback to each other through messaging. This typically occurred when we were not able to meet and small design decisions were required for the development of designs.  

Heads Together

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry have started a campaign to end the stigma around mental health. Heads Together aims to change the national conversation on mental health and wellbeing'. As well as being an individual charity it is also paired with other inspiring charitable organisations who have the experience of 'talking stigma, raising awareness and providing help for people with mental health'. 

Heads Together have been given the privilege of being the 2017 Virgin Money London Marathon Charity of the Year. Individuals can register with the Heads Together team and raise money for mental health through sponsorship of running the race. 

  

Unlike other charities such as Mind, Heads Together is providing the opening of discussion between individuals through being involved with their ongoing campaigns, attending events and through other support platforms. There are a number of videos of these events that can be viewed through their website. This is an alternative method of demonstrating the support that is available and to recieve advice in a second hand form. There is a large involvement of celebrity figures, this can be influential and encouraging, as well as perhaps more intimidating. 
The majority of the campaign creative is shown through video, similar to the recent approach that Mind; Time to Change have taken. This is an engaging format to discuss/relay information. This method of communication also relates to current trends and how there is a large majority of individuals who interact with videos on a daily basis through their smartphone and other appliances. 

Development

Following on from the sketches made, the following experiments were conducted digitally using Adobe Illustrator. The simple line drawing style reflects that of the architecture of the market. This allows for the detail to take focus and is an aspect that has been experimented with in the following designs. 

The initial designs focused on how to visually represent the sense of community that was shown following the events of the fire. Through the research carried out it was identified that an owl is the symbol of Leeds. This is therefore the symbol used to represent the people of leeds in the design. Adding the Yorkshire rose to the crown of the owl further emphasises this. 

Further experimentations were also completed in terms of the background colour of the design. The first colour palette has been inspired by the colours that are given off by fire. This is an ombre effect that could be recreated through screen printing. 

The second colour is influenced by the architecture of the market. This classic colour can be seen throughout the more traditional elements of the market and is therefore representative of the heritage of the building and community that can be experienced through the market. 

BBC News Article

BBC News. John Harrison. 2017. The 99 call-out that changed a paramedic's life.  [ONLINE] http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-39432297

This article is of relevance and interest to the research side of this project. This is due to the content focusing on the personal story of Dan Farnworth, a paramedic. From experiencing a traumatic call out, Dan has since suffered from mental health problems. Through struggling from sleepless nights and alcohol dependence, Dan reached out to a friend. In the article he goes on to explain how Rich Morton, a close friend, changed his life once again. Dan then had the support behind him to seek medical help and says that he was offered "unbelievable" support from his GP and counselling. Since confiding in Rich, the pair of friends have since started their own charity, Our Blue light. Their charity is aimed at improving the mental health of blue light service workers. 

The article then goes on to quote Mind; 

- 'The charity says nearly 90% of blue light staff have reported stress and poor mental health at work'

- 'Emergency workers are twice as likely to identify problems at work as the main cause of those mental health problems as the general workforce'

Submission

Research - Event Posters

The poster will focus around the celebration of the aftermath of the fire events of 1975 and the positive behaviours/way of thinking. As recognition needs to be made of the event itself, research has been carried out looking at event posters. 

This poster stood out due to the simplicity of the design and the ombre gradient that flows from dark to light, emphasising the nighttime element to the event. Elements of fun and activity are also shown through the brighter orange/pink tones at the bottom of the design, adding a sense of joy to the design. This is therefore a very effective piece of design, with the colour scheme playing a large contribution towards the emotions and appearance of the event.

The overall aesthetic of this poster is reinforced through the use of contrasting colour choices. Using a strong deep colour for the border of the poster adds a second dimension to the design. This is contrasted by the bright background, accompanied by the use of white type. A three colour print keeps the design simple and allows for the illustration aspect to the print to be the main focus. This is also achieved through having certain elements of the illustrations in white, to create a coherence between the creative and type. 

Unlike the other analysed poster designs, this one has a central focus. The use of a dark background against the bright colours of the illustration style creates a bold centerpiece to design. The simple hand rendered type shapes express the fun and creativity of the event which is further emphasised through the building of the flat colours in a collage type style. The more scripted handwritten style to the typography also adds personality and creativity to the design, reflecting the presumed atmosphere of the event. 

Similar to one of the previous analysed posters, this poster has a definite border to the design. However, this border then goes on to frame and be a part of the central illustrative design. The text is therefore brought in to work with the illustration, creating a cohesive design where text and illustration have informed each other's design placements. This is also an example of how a two colour print can still have bold and creative qualities through the use of adding detail in design, rather than through colour. 

Things to consider from analysing posters:

- A colour scheme that reflects the intended emotions/overall message of the poster

- Choices in typeface can also reflect emotions/the overall message of a poster

- Contrasting colours can be effectively used together if not made over complicated

Research Presentation

The issue that I have identified is the lack of creative forms in which information is given to those with mental health. This is something that may stem from the lack of awareness of mental health and is something that I have explored through extensive research.

Looking at mental health in a more in depth way I have learnt that 1 in 10 children and...

1 in 4 adults experience mental illness in their life time and many more of us know and care for people who do – this has been taken from the statistics posted on the NHS website.

Mental health is a subject area that I have been learning and gaining an understanding of through the future learn course, caring for people with psychosis and schizophrenia. This is ensuring that I have an educated understanding of mental health

As well as this I have research and I identified charities, the nhs and other organizations who are primarily focused on the individual suffering from mental illness

There is less and sometimes no attention given to those who are carers for the individual and therefore information about this topic is less frequently accessed

Through visiting student unions in Leeds and accessing their websites I have also identified that the majority of information is only gained through asking another individual, such as those in student welfare or through phone conversation.

This may hinder someone asking for help or more information about mental health and it should therefore be more openly and widely distributed

Through accessing the Mind website and downloading the 32 page PDF document on depression it became evident that a lot of the information is received through extensive wordy documents

Mind also has a number of advertising creative used on their social media using impersonal imagery and wording. This does not reflect that same positivity and encouragement that is received and present in the Time To Change campaign

- Time To Change 2017 campaign focuses on what you can do to help a friend and is an example of creative that focuses on the carers imput in a creative and engaging way

-This advertising campaign also addresses the statistic from The Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey, which highlighted that men are less likely to report or speak about their symptoms

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-Show video   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3l8LpDitZvY

Through doing the future learn course I am learning of the more medical side of treatment

As well as this I have looked at brands and ways of helping individuals cope with their experiences/feelings in an alternative way

Wear Your Label is a brand that was born through two individuals wanting to spark conversation around mental health through the production of clothing. They describe their brand as working towards the removal of the stigma that silences so many individuals and giving back along the way. This is done through 10% of net profits being donated to mental health initiatives.  This is an alternative way of approaching the mental health awareness

Through reading a number of online articles it is the social opinion of the public, psychologists and therapists that adult colouring books can help with a number of emotional and mental health issues

Due to the nature of the drawings, they help an individual focus their attention and therefore there is a removal of negative thoughts. It also helps them focus in a productive and positive way, with the outcome being rewarding. 

this is another alternative direction in addressing mental health symptoms and therefore awareness

It is said that the coloring activity help individuals who suffer from anxiety and stress issues due to the relaxation of their amygdala. There are also a number of individuals who find that producing art helps express their feelings. This is something I have discovered through reading the art and mental health page on the Mind website

This is also shown by illustrator Sow Ay who sketches honest and personal cartoons about his ongoing fight with mental illness. From designer to audience this shows an understanding of feelings and therefore provides a much more influential piece of design compared to a purely typographic image or document. This is the opinion of those who have written comments on the websites that have published his work – bored panda and his tumblr page

So far my research has covered a range of different directions focused around mental health and the information that is available. This has bettered my understanding of mental health as well as being more aware of the creative that is existing in the form of helping those individuals

In the next stage of this module I hope to be able to use the information I have gathered and focus on providing information for individuals suffering from mental illness and their carers in a more engaging and creative way.

Submission Boards

The submission boards were completed by myself and Bethan. Unfortunately, Emma was not available to be there when this task was completed however she was able to read through and help with the overall submission of the project on the YCN website. 

Identified Issue/Brief

From gathering a body of research the issue that has been identified is that there is a lack of diversity in the informative creative outlets that are available to those suffering from mental health and the carers of those individuals. Looking at this issue in a more indepth way, it has been identified that the current creative that is used by many mental health charities and the NHS is mainly focused on the individual and what the organisation can do to help. This is through the use of engaging photography and lengthy word documents. This demonstrates that there is a gap in addressing a more personal approach to the information giving. Furthermore for the carers of the individuals. Through research it has also been identified that a number of carers are not aware of the support that they are giving and the support that they can also receive with this. This is an area that would benefit from the use of graphic design/illustration as it is a way to connect with these individuals in a non direct yet beneficial way. 

Currently, the only identified creative that approaches this subject is by Mind. Their most recent advertising campaign, paired with Time To Change,focuses on the carers of the individual and the importance of their care. This has also addressed the figure that more men than women are likely to have mental health problems and are less likely to discuss their feelings with friends and family. 


Brief:

To develop and design a response to the issue that there is a lack of diversity in the informative creative outlets that are available to those who are carers of individuals suffering from mental health. The response will be created for the mental health charity organisation, Mind. Considerations and a response to the way that the information is displayed and distributed must be taken to ensure that it is effective in responding to the problem as well as reaching the target audience in an effective way. This will ensure that they are aware of the information available. This will further address the issue that information is limited in terms of the platforms that is available on (printed media, websites, etc). 
The purpose of the response must address the problem and provide a suitable solution to ensure that this is made less of an experienced issue - information for carers will be more accessible in day to day living and the content will be engaging to read. 
As the target audience of this brief are carers of individuals suffering from mental health issues considerations to the range of the outcome is essential in ensuring appropriateness to the age and preferences of the audience.  
    

Photography

After printing the final products, Bethan photographed the end results for the submission boards. This was a self organised shoot as this was an area that she felt confident in doing. After the photographs were taken I then got in contact with a photography student to edit them to a high level. This ensured that they had a clean and consistent light background and the designs reflected the fun and engaging design. 

Time to Change - Be in your mate’s corner.

This video is an example of a creative campaign that focuses on what individuals can do to support a friend who is suffering from mental health. As well as this, the video also addresses the statistic that highlights men are less likely to report/discuss their feelings with others compared to women. This is shown through the actors in the video. Many may be shocked to see such advertising due to the overall 'manly man' appearance of the actors, expressing feelings and care towards each other. This is something that is not necessarily seen socially and therefore draws in the attention of the audience. The videos are distributed through being shown in the sponsor section of social media sites such as Facebook. They can also be seen on YouTube and the Time To Change website. The content is therefore widely viewed by a number of different members of the general public who have access to the internet. The series of videos may be seen by an individual seeking information about mental health, or by someone simply browsing a news feed. 

Submission

Colouring Books

It is socially known that Adult Colouring Books are a preferred method of relaxation. Through reading a number of online articles (The Guardian; 2015. Medical Daily; 2015. The huffington Post; 2015) it is the social opinion of the public, psychologists and therapists that adult colouring books can help with a number of emotional and mental health issues. Due to the nature of the drawings, they help an individual focus their attention and therefore there is a removal of negative thoughts. It also helps them focus in a productive and positive way, with the outcome being rewarding. 

It is said that the colouring activity help individuals who suffer from anxiety and stress issues due to the relaxation of their amygdala. This is the part of the brain that controls our fight or flight response and when active this keeps individuals in a heightened adrenaline state, causing panic and hyper-vigilance. It has been said that colouring and diverting focus away from the anxiety/stress can reduce this response and therefore allowing the individual to relax and be productive in a positive way. Colouring is also said to utilize areas of the brain that enhance focus and concentration as well as helping with problem solving and organization skills. 

From this knowledge that is being socially discussed, a number of Colouring Books now brand themselves as 'Anti-stress art therapy' which could be said as commercialising mental health. 

Toby Allen

Toby Allen is an illustrator whose artwork focuses on imagining his anxieties as monsters and therefore making them more manageable. The text alongside the illustrations is a description of the particular mental health issue. Adding a personality to the anxieties made them more manageable for Toby Allen and he therefore shared these on the internet in the hope that they will help others.

This is an approach to managing mental health that is not widely used across the identified charities as well as in the healthcare industry. It could be said that a personal approach from artists appeals to a more limited audience due to the expose that the designs have. On the other hand, it could also be said that this would help the individuals more than more commercial design as it is personal to their likes and therefore there is a stronger feeling of relatability. 

“The project originated from imagining my own anxieties as monsters and finding it to be a cathartic and healing process to draw them,” Allen told The Huffington Post. 

Sow Ay

Saw Ay is an illustrator who sketches honest and personal cartoons about his ongoing fight with mental illness. The story behind Ay's illustrations is very personal which makes the illustrations even more relatable for those who are experiencing similar/the same feelings as the illustrator. 

“It a great way to express myself: a way to clean up my thoughts and brain so I don't get crazy."

The biggest misconception about mental illness, he feels, the idea that "it's just in your head"

"That's why makes us feel guilty and remain silent," he says. "Mental illness can not always leave by simple strong will. The real strength is to ask for help and talk about it." 

Taking an illustrative approach to address mental health is one direction that could be taken in response to the brief. Illustration provides a visual to mental health and takes away from the misconception that it is just 'in your head'. From designer to audience this shows an understanding of feelings and therefore provides a much more influential piece of design compared to a purely typographic image, telling an individual what they should be doing. 

Submission Boards

For the completion of the submission boards I followed guidance from previous students submissions. This gave an idea to the amount and structure of the writing, as well as highlighting what is relevant to include. I chose to include the primary research as this was something that was mentioned in the talk by YCN. They expressed their interest in submissions having primary research, especially if this had informed any design decisions, which mine had.