DESIGNING MY HEALTH JOURNEY

A Visual Narrative of Life on Warfarin

For my recent honours practical, I undertook a project that is deeply personal—a visual narrative documenting my health journey with Warfarin, starting from my first diagnosis at age 17. This publication reflects both the challenges and the resilience involved in managing a long-term health condition. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how I brought this concept to life.

Step 1: Setting the Scene with Real Spaces and Moments

To authentically convey my story, I chose to feature photographs of real spaces that have been part of my journey—such as the hospital bed where it all began, the Ampath lab where I’ve had countless blood tests, and the Warfarin pills and injections that became part of my daily life. These images allowed me to capture the clinical and emotional realities of my experience, grounding the publication in genuine, unfiltered moments.

Step 2: Designing from a 17-Year-Old Perspective

One unique aspect of this project was designing the narrative from the perspective of my 17-year-old self, capturing the initial shock and uncertainty of facing a lifelong health condition. This perspective influenced not only the content but also the tone, style, and pacing of the publication. I wanted readers to feel the weight of that moment and the mix of emotions that came with it—fear, confusion, and a sense of resilience slowly building over time.

Step 3: Conveying Uncertainty through Paper and Texture

To visually express the feeling of uncertainty and the sense of “not getting the full picture,” I experimented with different types of paper throughout the publication, that included tracing paper and plastic posi clear film. Each type of paper added a distinct texture and level of transparency. This layered approach Symbolised the journey of piecing together information over time, with each page turn revealing another part of the story.

Step 4: Crafting a Narrative with Photographs and Minimal Text

In place of illustrations, I relied on photographs and carefully chosen text to build the visual narrative. Each photo served as a snapshot of my experience, giving readers an honest look at the medical environments and tools that have been central to my life with Warfarin. The minimal text allowed the images to speak for themselves, letting the visuals convey the story with a sense of rawness and authenticity.

Creating this publication was both challenging and therapeutic. It allowed me to reflect on my journey and transform it into a piece that hopefully resonates with others facing similar health challenges. This honours project has shown me the power of design to tell personal stories and bring complex experiences to life in a way that words alone cannot capture.