Project Overview

My capstone project is a series of zine-like workbooks for faculty at universities to provide them with information about promoting student mental well-being. As issues of mental health have gained traction throughout the past years and have become more recognized and acknowledge, there is still a lot to be done as student health centers become overwhelmed with students seeking help. These books are meant to serve as a resource for faculty to expand their knowledge of the issues their students face and how they can help promote a culture of well-being instead of a culture that perpetuates students sacrificing their mental health. The first book dives deep into the general landscape of mental health within university settings, while the following two books go into more specific strategies faculty can implement to varying degrees.

I decided to focus solely on faculty as they have the unique position of interacting with students have a regular and personal basis. They have a more active role in students' lives than other members of a university's administration, including deans and advisors, allowing them the opportunity to really shape their students' experiences. In my interviews with faculty when beginning the project, I continually heard "Well I'm not an expert..." when they would begin to talk about their experiences with student mental health, but it doesn't take an expert to generally promote mental wellness. Through my design as well as the strategies provided in the books, I wanted to make clear that there are little things faculty members can incorporate that make a difference in supporting and promoting student well-being.

I wanted these books to be something faculty can really connect with and use. In order to encourage participation and writing within the books, there are multiple moments of reflection. These prompt faculty to reflect on what they already know, the gaps in their knowledge, and what they can do moving forward. These moments also help the reader digest the information they are reading, as the text is gathered from various academic sources and may be longer than what they are willing to read in their available spare time.

The imagery and design ensures that the books are approachable and friendly. I aimed to break the idea of mental health being a dark, serious topic that people don't want to talk about and transform it into something that can be more easily embraced. The headers and image typography throughout the books are hand-drawn to reflect the individual nature of mental wellness promotion. As universities provide little to no training for faculty, they must take it upon themselves if they want to learn more about mental health and how to work with students who many be struggling. Furthermore, the hand-drawn type reflects how strategies proposed in the books can be tailored to an individual's needs and abilities.