Project Type
Illustration, Book Design, Art Therapy
Target Audience
Teenagers & young adults who experience anxiety, worry & stress
Timeframe
6 Months
Problem
Anxiety, worry, and stress are prevalent mental health issues among teenagers, impacting their daily lives and overall well-being. Despite the availability of various psychological treatments, many teens struggle to find accessible and effective self-help tools that allow them to manage their anxiety independently.
Objectives
The project's objective was to research anxiety, stress, and worry in teens and young adults, understand the impact of these issues, and explore existing psychological treatments. The goal was to create a self-help book titled "You Are Okay" that helps anxious teenagers express their emotions and frustrations creatively, enhancing their learning experience and aiding in self-reflection.
Roles & Responsibilities
I was responsible for delivering all the designs for the project: Research & final book
Secondary research
Investigated the core issues of anxiety and its impact on teenagers.
Explored different forms of anxiety disorders, their symptoms, and existing treatment methods.
Studied the concept and workings of art therapy and its application in managing mental illness.
Insights
Anxiety is the most common mental illness in teenagers, with symptoms appearing as early as age 6 but usually surfacing around age 11.
Common anxiety disorders include Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety, Anxiety Attacks, Panic Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and Phobias.
These disorders cause emotional, physical, and social changes in adolescents, along with sleep disturbances and poor school performance.
Primary research
Conducted a survey with 133 participants to understand their worries and fears.
Used illustrated cards to gauge participants' worries, asking them to choose the card that worried them more from a given pair.
Analyzed the collected data to gain insights into the primary concerns and stressors for teenagers.
Insights
A significant worry among teenagers is the fear of failing at something, which is more stressful than the fear of hurting oneself.
Teenagers tend to worry more about their future rather than daily life instances.
Data showed that teenagers, busy with academics and socializing, prefer concise and interactive formats over long novels.
Concept development
Based on the insights from the primary & secondary research, decided to create an activity book which caters to the audience who prefer interactive formats.
The self-help book "You Are Okay" features interactive activities, creative prompts, and explanatory notes which simplify the complex topic of anxiety and help help teenagers manage their anxiety. The book is designed to be visually engaging, easy to navigate, and effective in prompting self-reflection and creative expression.
Designs
The book received positive feedback at events and art fairs, with participants appreciating its practical approach and engaging format.
Outcome and Reflection
The anxiety activity book project was a meaningful endeavour that allowed me to combine my design skills with a deep empathy for the challenges faced by young adults and teens.
By focusing on creating a visually engaging and interactive experience, I was able to design a resource that not only resonates with its audience but also provides practical tools to manage anxiety.
This project reinforced the importance of thoughtful design in addressing real-world problems and demonstrated the power of creative solutions in making a positive impact. The success of this book is a testament to the role of design in fostering emotional well-being and underscores my commitment to creating work that is both impactful and user-centric.