The Anti-Suicide Guidance includes a set of design for helping suicidal ideator to deal with and minimise their suicidal thought. It is aspired that visual communication can take a role to change user’s behaviour and thinking.
The Hook: Swimming ArmbandIn terms of visual identity, swimming armband is used as a visual metaphor implying the meaning of “Learning of survival”. We use swimming armbands for learning physical survival skills, swimming while we use The Anti Suicide Guidance for learning mental survival skills. The main color tone is orange with grey showing a neutral tone. It is hoped that the tone can avoid the design being over-optimistic or over-pessimistic, due to the need of the users. The arrows on the swimming armbands aim to express the objective of the design : “Anti” is not just denying on value but showing more possibilities.
The vow, as the start of the project, works as an essential part. The user can inflate it to see the content and sign their name to confirm joining the project and promise not to commit suicide. The vow is designed in a special experience. It is aspired that the interesting interaction can make the dull and unpleasant vowing memorable. So, it can result the self affirmation and protective factor concrete. When the users encounter suicidal thought, the action on the vow and the content can remind them to control their condition.
The digital application provides 4 main functions, including Self-assessment, Emergency help, Daily report & Happiness plan. They can help us understand on our suicidal thought, so as to observe, control and change the thought.
The physical symbol is a project helping us to control our suicidal thought when having severe thought influence our daily lives. After wearing it, we can record the time of thinking about suicide. 30 days without suicidal thought is the target of each project time.
Mental guidebook helps us to understand and think about life. It is essential for minimizing our suicidal thought. The publication uses illustration with inspiring quotes to trigger our thinking on life and suicide.
This issue need to be handled with care. I do not want to force any "good thought" to them (and I do not have the right to speak for what is correct). I want to discuss with empathy about life, so we can grow together.
Kelvin Ho Designer
Project is awarded for Kan Tai-Keung Design Award (Selection Award)