The Challenge
There are many factors contributing to why many students hesitate to seek help for mental illness. These can include stigma, financial difficulties, lack of awareness, belief in self-reliance and minimising mental health issues.
The design brief for this project was to use the QUT depression fact sheet to create an interactive website that engages and educates students about the symptoms and treatments of depression.
The design brief for this project was to use the QUT depression fact sheet to create an interactive website that engages and educates students about the symptoms and treatments of depression.
Market Research
My first step was to conduct research on existing mental health websites and interactive narratives. I identified common features and listed elements I thought improved the usability, interactivity and aesthetics of the website.
Story boards
Story boards were used to help test and plan the usability and flow of the website as well as the users thought process.
The website flows through scenes describing the experience of depression and is accompanied by a poem. The poem was used to make the symptoms of depression relatable, less clinical and more memorable.
The male and female characters are used to keep the site gender neutral. The two characters end up discovering each other's little monsters and demonstrate how talking about mental health can help you feel less alone.
The site then reveals treatments and advice on how to foster a sense of mental wellbeing.
To encourage reflection and self-awareness the user then completes a short questionnaire about how they have been feeling. To leave the user feeling hopeful the site ends with encouraging words and mental health resources.
Visual Style
Revised art style (more creative, authentic and emotional illustrations)
The sketchy illustrated style was used to engage the user in the story, by evoking emotions, creating an emotional connection, making complex topics more accessible, and making the story more memorable as it stands out from the rest of the market.
User Testing
After some user testing and collecting feedback I decided to make the text of the poem reveal after the user has clicked on the characters in each scene. This can provide an engaging and interactive experience for the user, while allowing them to fully absorb the emotional messages conveyed by the illustrations.
Final Design
