TOUCH_THE NEXT STEP

TOUCH_THE NEXT STEP

Team members

Aaron Soares (ASD), Ariyana Tiara Arnold (ASD), Jane Phua Wen En (ASD), Wong Siong Min (ASD), Liew Iris (EPD), Ng Jiaxing Aaron (EPD), Ong Lok Hen (ESD)

Instructors:

Michael Reeves, Low Hong Yee, Francisco Benita

Writing Instructors:

Grace Kong

Teaching Assistant:

Li Xueliang

Problem Statement

Though mental health awareness is widespread, the request for treatment for mental health disorders is trailing behind. Individuals who are aware of their need to seek help for their mental health are not requesting for treatment, creating a gap. This gap is prominent especially amongst youth due to preconceived notions of mental health treatment and the stigma that is associated with seeking professional help.

Project Aim

This project thus aimed to design a pavilion that directly targeted the issue of stigma surrounding mental health. Through deliberate consideration of a user’s journey, the experience in the pavilion helps empower users and lets them know that they are not alone, and that getting help can be simple and not demeaning. As a result, we hope to reduce the resistance to treatment, and encourage individuals to be willing to reach out.

Spatial Design

Designed as a rest spot, the pavilion naturally attracts users by providing a resting space where they can relax and spare the time to explore. The structure was designed with two main guiding concepts - to pique curiosity in users by introducing unexpected spaces, and use visibility as a tool to create public and private spaces.

Degree of Unexpectedness

A geometric exterior form attracts the attention of passersby to enter the pavilion and experience the organic interior space. This contrast is unexpected and the undulating interior draws the users to want to further explore the pavilion as well as create moments of surprise as users walk through our space through bends and nudges.

Public and Private Spaces

Visibility into our structure is skewed and where you can see into the pavilion depends on the angle of view. This is carried through from one of our first few intentions of creating privacy.

Write-Up Wall

After the interactive experience, users can proceed to the other wall to obtain insights about the experience through write-ups, and gain access to stories about other individuals’ mental health journeys, and help resources available through the use of QR codes.

There is also a display where users can pledge to show more care and love to themselves. Upon pressing a button and pledging, the display would increase its count by one, and the lights running through the pavilion would change colour in celebration of the pledge.