Live project with Mental Health Organisation Mind
The challenge was given from the charity Mind where they wanted us to develop and design new approaches to how people living through mental health issues can experience the right kind of support they need in the their homes and in their communities.
Our initial thoughts were about abstract impressionism in particular Jackson Pollock, who uses paint on to canvas. Where we first did our experiment and gathered people to express their feelings and interact to throw paint onto our large canvas. This was a way to visualise their mental discomfort. It doesn’t mean it’s defiantly how their mind looks just an interpretation.
We wanted to have a clear idea of mental health around the university and link it to art. For our post card idea we placed pop up stands for people to anonymously draw and write with the question, ‘What does your mental health look like?’ with a small description on the back with their age. From this experiment we gathered that the majority of people have problems with their mental health, most commonly depression and anxiety. This made us realise how common it is and that you cant fix your issues through art, it just allows you to express your current thoughts and feelings on the matter. The postcard concept was good for people as a platform to visualise their thoughts but it wasn’t helpful as a lot felt they didn’t have the drawing skills and were hesitant about doing the exercise. Also felt that it was difficult to draw their thoughts and it was a hard task to do when you have limited time. I feel it was had its problems but we managed to gather some credible research to take forward.
The various methods we used to gather our research were through art forms but it doesn’t mean it guarantees a fix or labels that people who use art are mad.
Leading from this we thought about safe private spaces in toilets where people can go to when they need some private time.
So we decided to design pieces of paper to put up on the backs of toilet doors, leaving prompts such as what is your opinion on mental wellbeing. It allowed people to be open about their personal mental health and ideas on the matter. It became an important platform for people in a public but private space to interact by leaving messages, drawings and conversation starters.
It was the best source of our research we had gathered. I think it was a successful designed intervention in a private space, sparking conversations on mental health and got people to open up. The experiment didn’t go well in the men’s toilets because they drew rude images and inappropriate messages. So we decided to plan an exhibition experience and made the event on Facebook but advertised it around the university and on all social media sites.
When we hosted the event as a group at the London Cocktail bar. I created this graphic to show our well-designed experience and visually show using the floor plan, it gives a description of each interaction piece and why they were specifically placed. The design planning captures the aim and reason of the event.
The graphic is limiting as a 2D visual of the bar and it simply shows the bar at a bird’s eye view and the bars structure. Tailoring interactive pieces with the obstacles and structures. To improve this graphic it could be done as a 3D render to show the bar more realistically, with the interaction pieces positioned precisely showing the bars structure and where the main furnishings are. I think the graphic presents how successful the exhibition went and the images show the interaction pieces.
We designed and made an interactive exhibition. We chose to exhibit it at a bar because it is an everyday comfortable, social space. We wanted to get away from exhibition barriers, the bar showcased the art work and interactive pieces in a up beat, social, relaxed, positive environment where the participants felt comfortable to share their stories and talk about mental wellbeing.
We created box pieces with quotations taken from the confessions that people wrote in the toilet cubicles. They were painted black to blend into the walls. We created an installation in which you could walk inside and be surrounded by postcards. We provided instructions and platforms in which people were able to express how they felt using art but not needing any specific skills to do so. The bars environment and the participants was a type of community where everyone came together through art and was happy to emerge themselves in creativity. We had a lot of positive feedback from the participants as they thought the interactive tasks and installations were enjoyable and had everyone relaxed and open about their mental health.
The architecture of the experience goes across three scales the community and participates, the interactions experience and the design of the space. Designing the interactions and spaces in relation of a bar is important. Problems can occur because of the consumption of alcohol, this could take away the focus on mental health, the designed the space will illuminate the stereotypical view of the venue by re arranging the priority.
Our aim was to remove stigma and raise awareness by the creation of art pieces as a development from art therapy and communication between people. Too enable people to indirectly speak of their issues and feelings. To demonstrate to people how normal and common having an unbalanced mental health is. To provide people with a safe place where they can communicate and anonymously converse about their personal issues.
If I could host the event I would use different interventions because it is important to be as versatile (diverse) as possible. This graphic shows my redesigned of the exhibition experience at the London cocktail club, by replacing the interactive art pieces with new ones. One of the interaction pieces I designed was to throw darts at paint filled balloons. This would produce a wonderful mess and explosion of colour that represents mental issues. The new pieces are important because they are connecting people and help create positivity. The pieces are all engaging and interesting. These could be set up in other unusual spaces such as comedy nights and my SU at the university. By producing new interactive pieces is important because it will produce new outcomes, bring in new crowds and be able to involve more people who visit. The pieces are vibrant, informative and are well thought out to be suitable for anyone.
I designed a graphic interaction piece I tailored specifically towards comedy nights where I thought about aiming it at the Comedy Store. This is an event where mental health and Interaction art pieces can be incorporated. It is a night where the stand up comedians, do their best to make the audience laugh, have a good time and smile. The task is easy to follow and for all art capabilities. I think the graphic of the geo metric face is eye catching and inviting to colour in.
The result of doing the face is positive because it will make up positive messages when combined and posted on to the Mind website to help promote and educate people.
The pieces I have designed will have a huge impact on making the events a success and will be a positive, refreshing vibe for the participants.
If the events aren’t designed well through planning to the pieces shown, it would ruin its intentions to stop stigmatising and for people to become more open.
The pieces are a type of material culture where we use things to help us tackle our mental issues.
On the events it will bring new groups of people and will give them the chance to participate who have different opinions, new feedback from each event will be beneficial as I can take it on and improve the interactive pieces and experience.
By tailoring the interactive art pieces for different spaces it will bring a range of people with different capabilities. Each place the event is held at will bring a new form of community.
By designing new interaction pieces through art as a medium, it will help bring people together to be able to talk about mental wellbeing by providing platforms to use art in safe spaces. This is something that can then involve everyone and enable them to enjoy, raise awareness and produce positive artwork revolving around mental health that supports communities around mental health. The experience will help bridge the gap of social environments with mental health to help get to the people who shy away from their issues. It should function and be beneficial for everyone because it needs to help change our culture.
Mental health is still a taboo in our society and the education system doesn’t incorporate learning and dealing with mental health issues. Kids don’t understand or know about mental health and as a result bullying can occur. Our culture has been brought up to be open about their mental health and see it as a negative thing.