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. 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?’
We live illustrated these conversations into a zine that captured the reflections and discussions emerging from the event.
Project Focus & My Role
Capturing conversations through live visual illustration
Translating complex research into accessible visual language
Supporting public engagement with healthcare research
Creating accessible zine resource
Encouraging dialogue beyond the event itself
Creative Process
The zine was developed as a response to the workshop and a lasting resource that could continue the conversation after the event. The zine was created in order 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
The project has demonstrated how visual storytelling can help bridge the gap between research and wider public audiences.
Collaboration
Hana Ayoob
UK Young Academy
Health OpenSpaces
Researchers, healthcare professionals, policymakers and people with lived experience of pregnancy
Outcome
The zine became a visual record of the conversations and a tool for ongoing public engagement. By translating research into the zine, we created new opportunities for people to engage with complex healthcare issues in a thoughtful and approachable way.