Journal
Awards
Good Design (Awards) better access to mental health services
Folk wins two Golds at this year’s Australian Good Design Awards
We’re delighted to have our work recognised in the 2022 Australian Good Design Awards – one of the longest-running international design awards, showcasing the very best in design and innovation since 1958.
Even more delighted that our work is helping to improve access to mental health services across Australia. Through co-design with people with lived experience we helped SANE Australia create a ground-breaking digital support service; and made Head to Health an open and welcoming door to mental health for all, through their national pilot of mental health centres.
Both projects won Gold – SANE in the Web Design and Development category, and Head to Health in the Design Branding and Identity category.
About SANE Australia
SANE’s treatment program is integrated with digital services to provide access to life-changing support for 2 million+ Australians who live with complex mental health.
People living with complex mental health issues face stigma, discrimination and a system that makes it difficult to access the services and supports they need. Whilst removing inequities and social and economic exclusion for these is the driving force behind SANE, they needed to shift focus towards providing access to supports.
Our collaboration with SANE helped to dramatically reposition the brand and successfully navigate the first tricky stage of transformation, to create a support service designed to grow and re-energise their brand that will cut-through in the crowded mental health landscape. Most importantly, this work signals big change for people with complex mental health.
The traditional approach of talking about mental health has been turned on its head. Focusing on "making space for difference" and reflecting this in the clean crisp redesign, this in turn focuses on removing complexity for users when onboarding or seeking information. The end result is strong, visually engaging and most importantly, truly focused on supporting the user achieve what they need through the site.
Jury members
Read the full SANE case study.
About Department of Health – Head to Health
In 2020 the Australian Government commissioned eight pilot mental health centres across Australia to begin shaping a new open door to mental health for all Australians. With the ambition to open a comprehensive network of services across Australia within the next few years, the centres needed to become a distinct new presence in the primary health care landscape.
For thousands of people experiencing mental health challenges across Australia every day, finding the right support services can be confusing and time consuming. Compounding their state of distress. And traditional health environments (like a hospital Emergency Department) aren’t designed to support mental distress and can worsen the experience of seeking help.
We helped to define and create a national brand, strategy and design, with local connection for the centres. “Create time and space” resonates with the short-term mindset people with lived experienced described to us. To disperse distress, a single step forward, clarity but not resolution. Emotionally driven. To project an open feeling. Pause. Calm. Guidance.
I'm a big believer that good design is also a good service to citizens. So it's great to see design work in government being elevated to a better place with this project. The system contains an intelligent and evocative elements that are consistently executed. Where it is easy to overlook so many of the communications that we received (including important ones), the design does its job in making the case for people to pay attention.
Jury members
Read the full Head to Health case study.
It is extremely rewarding not just to be recognised in this way, but moreover, to work on such inspiring projects, with inspiring clients, who work tirelessly to improve the state of mental health and wellbeing in Australia.
With thanks to our incredible clients (congratulations), and to the extremely-wise members of the 2022 Good Design Awards jury.
Twice.
Good indeed.
Read more at Good Design Awards.