Elder Postcard Project
For this project, my design class worked with an organization in Milwaukee called Timeslips, which brings creativity and connection to elders. There are lots of benefits to engaging in different creative activities for elders, especially ones dealing with memory loss. They can be just as creative as kids, and have a lifetime of knowledge and experiences to share. This project started in the Covid-19 pandemic when these elders are at risk and are isolated from each other and from their families, spending a lot of time alone in their rooms. I was tasked with designing four postcards that allow for some type of creative engagement. I wanted to create something that could be done completely alone and utilized storytelling. I know I personally can sit and daydream for hours, and I wanted to allow for an experience like that with my cards. The questions on the back help guide the viewer through the story, and the image on the front gives them a place to start with.
Another big aspect for me was creating something beautiful to look at. If the elder is not using the prompt, they can still have something to put in their room to look at. I had some illustrations that were more whimsical to try to encourage the imagination. The story they tell doesn’t have to be a real place, but it can be a completely made-up world where anything can happen. This project required research into the audience, and we had to design with different cognitive and visual impairments in mind. This influenced color and type choices. Just because it had to be easy to read and interact with didn’t mean it couldn’t be beautiful though. This project really helped me think about all sorts of people with different experiences that could interact with any design I do in the future!
The Process
