Tools for visibility

These are the diabetes cards developed by the Design Council as part of their project with diabetes sufferers in Bolton. The cards were used to help patients talk about diabetes and their experiences of living with it in a non-medical way. Images courtesy of Design Council & Giulio Mazzarini.

Mapping, visualisations, storyboards, photographs and video interviews are all tools used by design agencies - a dynamic field concerned with visualisations of complexity. One example is the Design Council’s project with diabetes sufferers in Bolton. During the course of their project the Design Council found that many people with diabetes often find it difficult to make the lifestyle changes they need to stay healthy. The designers devised new ways of helping those with diabetes talk about these difficulties with doctors. They created a pack of cards, each with their own message. These cards were then used by health professionals to help people manage their diabetes more effectively.