THROUGH THE FOG
ABOUT
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PTSD is a severe anxiety disorder that affects several major aspects of an individual’s daily life. The main issue we face when educating the general populous on the topic of PTSD is the lack of knowledge regarding the causes and symptoms of PTSD. Which in turn has led to low diagnostic rates and pervasive social stigma. In fact, 75% of people with PTSD are women, and 86% of people with PTSD are non-military. Many people, especially women, who are suffering from PTSD must also overcome issues of internalized silence and personal shame. It is not uncommon especially in cases of sexual assault or childhood trauma for the victim to feel pressured or threatened into hiding the trauma.
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PROJECT GOALS​
There were 3 objectives in mind when crafting this campaign: educating the public and potential patients, empathizing with current patients, and encouraging self-advocacy, which are each imperative to spreading awareness of PTSD and cultivating a community of individual’s who will support patients.
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SOFTWARE USED
Adobe AfterEffects, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Dimension
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WEBSITE​
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Above is what our interactive website’s main attraction would look like. We’ve created a virtual museum, who’s permanent exhibition exposes varying causes and experiences of PTSD including Sexual Assault, War Refugees, Childhood Trauma, Racial Trauma and Childbirth Trauma. Its title “Through the Fog” alludes to common symptoms of PTSD including memory loss, flashbacks and trouble focusing or sleeping. Each sculpture on display is inspired by quotes and testimonies of people who’ve experienced the equated kind of trauma. By providing sculptures which personify what it feels like to live with PTSD, we are providing a way for viewers to empathize with PTSD patients, recognize themselves in their words and visualizations or educate them with statistics provided with each point.
SCULPTURE GENERATOR​
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On the final page of Through the Fog’s website, the viewer has the opportunity answer a series of questions to generate a visual personification of their own experience with PTSD. The quiz will be comprised of questions that provide insight into the individual’s visual, textural, and sense based responses to PTSD. At the end of the quiz, the user will be presented with a sculpture of their own to download, share, print or whatever they may have in mind. Also, the data that is collected through the quiz responses can be made available to Rexulti and could be used to connect with patients as the PTSD indication continues. Sharing this information would be opt in for each user.
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INSTALLATION
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We can take this campaign even further. Once, we’ve built an archive of participant’s sculptures we have the opportunity to strengthen the connection between them by turning their outputs into a real life experience. If all of these sculptures were installed in a real gallery, PTSD patients would be given the opportunity to talk about their experiences, struggles and triumphs. Building a community such as this could serve as a priceless resource to patients
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If someone does not want their generated sculpture in a gallery or on the website archive, they could bring it into the physical world in a different way. Being able to download their sculpture as a model to be 3D printed enables the participant to save as a keepsake, have it on their desk or wherever suits them as a token of their dedication to their own health.
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