Comfort Zone: An attempt to navigate
through the OCD’s anxiety stage
Project Type:
Final Major Project of
MA Art and Design: Interdisciplinary Practices
Birmingham City Univercity, UK
Year:
2023
Fields:
Product Design
Design Thinking
Art Therapy
Creative Design
Photography
Filming
Woodworking
Metalworking
Editing
Poster Design
In this project, the design of healing instruments has been explored to supply a comfort zone for people suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The purpose of these tools and their effectiveness is to prevent people from moving from the anxiety stage of the four-stage cycle of OCD (temporary relief, obsessive thought, anxiety, and compulsive behavior) into the compulsive behavior stage and spending a longer period in the temporary relief stage. The tools are based on the repetitive behavior and habits of people with OCD, who typically share similar characteristics.
This collection's design approach started with a detailed scientific examination of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and the cycles that are related to it. A variety of individual experiences with this condition were investigated to identify common patterns, which included checking and repeating behaviors. Moreover, the combination of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and OCD developed as a fundamental feature supporting the collection.
Eventually, wood, metal, water, candle, and stone were used to foster a sense of relief and relaxation through communication with materials in this project, which was inspired by the concept of five elements, which is significant in Chinese healing culture.
"Rest Assured" was designed of a combination of stone, wood, and candle materials to give OCD sufferers total assurance and remove the need to continually check different items. The intention behind lighting a candle is to promote a sense of peacefully in people, whereas the intention behind touching and using stone is to inspire confidence in the audience.
"Keep turning" aims to be able to act as entertainment when the people with OCD feel the need to repeat unnecessary behaviors and prevent ocd people from doing those things. It is based on the propensity of ocd people to touch and move objects frequently.
"Consideration" was designed and inspired by fishing, and it has a significant positive effect on people's mental health according to science. This game has both immediate and long-term therapeutic benefits for OCD people who are experiencing anxiety.
People with oCD disorder can use this collection to deal with the anxiety caused by obsessive thoughts and avoid entering the stage of compulsive behaviors. During this project, it has been tried that with the help of design thinking and relying on the research completed, the final result might be beneficial in the field of art therapy.
