Health OpenSpaces: Pregnancy Research Zine
Research Illustration, Knowledge Exchange & Visual Storytelling
As part of the Health OpenSpaces project with the UK Young Academy, I collaborated with illustrator Hana Ayoob to create a zine. Find the zine here:
https://ukyoungacademy.org/news/voices-from-the-room-health-openspaces-launches-new-zine/
The project held an event which brought together researchers, healthcare professionals, policymakers and people with lived experience of pregnancy to explore the question: ‘What would it take to change the underrepresentation of pregnancy in medical research?’
Working closely with Hana, we live translated these conversations into an illustrated publication that captured the themes, reflections and discussions emerging from the event.
Project Focus
Translating complex research into visual language
Supporting public engagement with healthcare research
Capturing conversations through live illustration
Creating accessible resources for knowledge exchange
Encouraging dialogue beyond the event itself
My Role
Working alongside Hana Ayoob, I developed illustrations for a zine that responded to the discussions taking place throughout the event.
My role included:
Interpreting complex research themes through illustration
Collaborating on the visual development of the publication
Creating artwork that reflected participants' ideas and lived experiences
Supporting knowledge exchange through accessible visual communication
Creative Process
The zine was developed as both a creative response to the workshop and a lasting resource that could continue the conversation after the event.
Through illustration, the zine sought to:
Communicate complex ideas in an accessible way
Reflect multiple perspectives and lived experiences
Encourage curiosity and discussion
Create an engaging entry point into an important area of healthcare research
By combining illustration with collaborative dialogue, the project demonstrated how visual storytelling can help bridge the gap between research and wider public audiences.
Collaboration
This project was developed in collaboration with:
Hana Ayoob
UK Young Academy
Health OpenSpaces
Researchers, healthcare professionals, policymakers and people with lived experience of pregnancy
The project brought together artistic practice, academic research and lived experience to create a resource that was informative, engaging and accessible.
Outcome
The finished zine became both a visual record of the conversations and a tool for ongoing public engagement. By translating research into illustration, the publication created new opportunities for people to engage with complex healthcare issues in a thoughtful and approachable way.