Health Communication Design Studio
The Health Communication Design Studio (HCDS) investigates pressing issues related to public health, particularly in underserved populations. We create strategic design solutions to address these challenges, and we evaluate their impact in our communities.
Why Health and Design?
The field of design is uniquely suited to approach the vast web of our healthcare system. Design methodologies provide a nonrestrictive yet focused way to find solutions to complex problems. Health communication design provides individuals access to information related to their own health as well as ways to connect public healthcare systems. The HCDS is invested in establishing new avenues for public engagement, education, and empowerment related to public health.
HCDS Areas of Research & Investment:
- Designing effective science communication
- Addressing health disparities
- Building trust in community
- Distribution of public health resources
- Community-based participatory design
University and Community Partners
- Health Communication Research Lab
- The Asthma Lab’s CHEST Study Team
- St. Louis County Department of Health
- St. Louis City Department of Health
- St. Louis Regional Response Team
HCDS is supported by the following grants and organizations
- NIH’s Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL)
- NIH’s Rapid Diagnostics for Underserved Populations (RADxUP)
- CDC’s Prevention Research Centers (PRC).
Awards & Publications
- Graphic Design USA Health + Wellness Award Winner 2023
- Graphic Design USA Health + Wellness Award Winner 2022
- Graphic Design USA Best Of Year Winner 2022
- AJPH Paper - Addressing COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy With Community Distribution of Conversation Cards
Conferences & Presentations
- Advancing Public Health ICOPH 2024 Virtual Presentation: - A Design and Research Framework to Develop and Patient-Centered Asthma Action Plan for St. Louis Federally Qualified Health Centers
- UCDA Immerse 2024 Presentation - Long COVID Information Service: Leveraging Public Health & Design Collaboration for Responsive Health Communication Materials
- UCDA Immerse 2024 Poster Presentation - Expansive Design: Leveraging 508 Compliance and Accessibility Standards in Public Health Communications
- UCDA Immerse 2024 Poster Presentation - iHeard St. Louis: A Case Study in Data-Driven Health Communication Design Decisions
- AIGA DEC Surface Conference 2022 Paper & Presentation - From Vaccine Hesitancy to Vaccine Confidence: Addressing Covid-19 Vaccination Hesitancy Through Conversation Cards and Vaccine Ambassadors
Nov 21, 2022
The Health Communication Design Studio makes its mark
When the pandemic hit, information seemed to be everywhere– Health Communication Design was created to help provide clarity to the complexity of public and global health systems
Nov 13, 2022
Sam Fox School Faculty Awarded Global Incubator Seed Grants from McDonnell International Scholars Academy
Projects to receive up to $25,000 each to research bamboo as sustainable timber alternative, urban stormwater management, and visual design’s impact on mental health stigma and awareness.
Recent Projects
Our projects address issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic, health education, teen mental health, and health information monitoring.
Envelope and card system created to start conversations about the vaccine with unvaccinated family and friends.
A public-facing dashboard tracking the prevalence and believability of information in the community, and providing responses to incorrect information.
The Co-Creation pilot project brought community voices early into the research and design process to investigate mental health and identity conversations between teens and adults.
iHealth Self-Test Instructional Booklet
An iHealth COVID-19 self-testing instructions booklet distributed to 2-1-1 callers who requested a self-testing kit.
A series of door hangtags created for the Regional Response Team to distribute information about COVID-19 vaccination.
Self-Test Instructional Booklet for Seniors
An iHealth COVID-19 self-testing instructions booklet distributed to homebound seniors who requested a self-testing kit.
Postcards delivered through Meals on Wheels to at-home seniors to connect them with vaccination appointments and/or self-test kits.
A website created to make clinical trial recruitment more accessible to African American community members and encourage participation.
A series of recruitment postcards for Share Your Story, whose aim was to conduct 50 interviews with individual community members about their life during the pandemic.