Conversation With Dad Zine

Problem

Aphasia, a condition more widespread than various common disorders, lacks public awareness, with 84.5% of people unfamiliar with the term.

The project addresses the pressing issue of societal awareness about secondary illiteracy and aphasia, particularly the challenges individuals face in regaining reading abilities after brain surgery or strokes, highlighting the flaws in the prevailing system that often place the responsibility for communication the affected person.

Solution

Increasing societal emphaty by spreading awareness about the issue by quick and cheap print - zine.

By addressing the lack of familiarity with aphasia, the project aims to spark conversations and promote a more compassionate approach towards those grappling with reading difficulties.

Substantive articles that give basic understanding intermingled by emotional hand-lettering

Merging informative articles with emotional hand-lettering, this section offers a basic understanding of the subject. The content, presented in an emotionally charged manner through hand-lettering, aims toevoke engagement and spark interest. This approach intertwines essential information with a personalized touch to enhance the reader's connection to the material.

Metaphor that brings people closer

The symbol of the lost connection here is the Glagolitic alphabet - the once vibrant Proto-Slavic language of our region. In this small project I tried to find analogies between the current alphabet and the lost one . Similar writing rhythm, mirror images of characters. It is also interesting that some letters had their own separate meanings, e.g. D = Dobro (good), P = Pokój (peace), S = Słowo (word).

Encoded personal experiences

In the zine, I extended the metaphor by encoding personal experiences. Messages written in Glagolica, including an interview with my father, create a unique layer of understanding . As the interview progressed, I transitioned to "speaking" in his language. The subsequent pages detail my personal experiences and a letter seeking understanding, providing readers with an opportunity to decode the content, emphasizingour ability to adapt and connect with those affected by aphasia.

Process

Awareness

Before my dad's surgery, I had never considered aphasia or secondary illiteracy. As I searched for effective communication tools, the lack of empathy from society toward those affected left me frustrated.

Research

I delved into the topic through extensive reading, consulting organizations, and conducting interviewswith affected individuals and their families. Simultaneously, upon discovering Glagolica as a perfect metaphor, I started exploring this ancient language.

Ideation & Design

After creating thousands of sketches, developing fonts, and collecting content, I started assembling and fine-tuning the project, aiming to achieve the perfect aesthetics and message.

White Paper Research

The National Aphasia Association reports that only 8.8% of people have heard of aphasia and can identify it as a language disorder.

👉 34.7% of people that are “aphasia aware” either have aphasia or know someone that does.

👉 Aphasia can be so severe as to make communication with the patient almost impossible.

👉 Most people have never heard of aphasia. Because people with aphasia have difficulty communicating, the condition is often mistaken for many other situations. Feelings of social isolation with resulting emotional effects are common to individuals with aphasia.

Interview with Dad

The embodiment of aphasia

A pivotal aspect of my project involves delving into the intricacies of aphasia from the perspective of the affected person, aiming to cultivate empathy. I engaged ina two-hour conversation with my dad, exploring his feelings, communication struggles, and encouraging the expression of frustrations and moments of embarrassment. Following the interview, I meticulously condensed the content into succinct sections, allowing readers to resonate with the profound experiences shared.

Web & Old tomes Research

Lost language - Głagolica

👉 The oldest known Slavic script. Despite its historical significance, Glagolitic is no longer in common use, and surviving examples of texts in this script are relatively rare.

👉 The script contains 41 characters representing a specific sound, much like the Latin or Cyrillic scripts.

👉 Some symbols have compound meaning like letter D symbolises Dobro (meaning good). The legend in my region speaks that the hexes shouldn’t have any of the “good” letters in them for the worst outcome ;)

Ideation

Exploring techniques and hand lettering for better understanding of lost languages

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Final Design

Perfect combination of aesthetics and encoded messages

Reflections

As the time goes...

I endeavored to address a deeply personal and often overlooked issue, striving to convey that We are not alone and that the world extends beyond our individual experiences. My intention was to evoke curiosity, followed by frustration, ultimately fostering increased sensitivity towards the challenges of secondary illiteracy and aphasia. From this side project, three key takeaways emerge: