OutLoud
A mental health project by students, for students.
The Challenge
With myself as lead visual designer and co-creative director, our team of six peers developed four distinct platforms as a solution to a problem close to our hearts - university students' struggle with mental health.
So, how do we feel?
Given the personal relevance of the project’s focus, team members — particularly those with lived experience of mental health struggles — became the initial reference points for early idea development.
Since these experiences aligned closely with the target audience, the team generated rough concepts based on their own perspectives, which were later tested in user interviews.
Through reflecting on our own thoughts and experiences with mental health, we determined some key pain points:
Feeling of isolation in battling with mental health
AM I THE ONLY ONE?
Limited awareness and representation of struggles impacting student life
WHY DOES NOBODY CARE?
Lack of accessible coping strategies beyond lengthy solutions such as therapy
I NEED HELP NOW!
User Research
Our external target audience interviews validated these views.
The conversations revealed that most participants faced university-related mental health struggles like stress, burnout, and anxiety, with some even recognizing their symptoms for the first time. Many hesitated to seek professional help, viewing it as burdensome or a sign of failure.
There also emerged some concerns about the project’s tone- people feared that our concept to give our audience "quick tips" might seem patronizing. They stressed the need for diverse coping strategies, highlighting that mental health management is deeply personal — shaping the project’s focus on supportive, adaptable content.
Ideation
During ideation, one potential platform discussed was a mixed-media exhibition combining AI and traditional art about mental health made through audience workshops.
However, after revisiting insights from our interviews— where people mentioned social anxiety and time constraints — we realized this idea didn’t match our audiences needs.
They wanted events that offered practical value, not just socializing. The team then pivoted to an educational approach focused on mental health knowledge and coping strategies.
Here's What We Came Up With.
OutLoud
Platform #1
A Google Form where students could submit secret “confessions” about their mental health struggles. After gathering responses, we taped over 100 hand-written notes with these confessions all around Tallinn University, making sure that everyone who walked the halls of the institution was made to face the true reality of the students’ experience.
Confession Prototypes & Submission Form
After multiple iterations, the notes were developed with black paper and red tape intentionally to spark interest, be instantly recognizable, and stand out from all the other papers pinned to bulletin boards across the university.
Final Confession Design & Implementation
Platform #2
Platform #2: a short film that depicted the story of a university student struggling with anxiety and burn-out from university life; a common experience we identified in our user interviews.
In order to link the short with the visual identity of the project, I created an animation using our logo that served as a title card.
Short Film Set & Animation
Platform #3
Platform #4
An art therapy workshop in which students learned exercises and practices they could use to relieve the stress that develops from university life.
The advertisement for the event was designed in accordance with our visual identity, in order to attract our core audience to attend.
Specifically, I designed it to match the formatting of our social media posts that delivered mental health tips in order for our users to subconsciously make that connection to understand the nature of the event.
Short Film Set & Animation
Here's What Happened.
The Outcome
Our project garnered an outpouring of support, relief, and appreciation from those who found solace and recognition through our efforts.
The impact of our educational content extended to students beyond the 20 who attended our workshop; reaching a broader audience on social media with valuable mental health tips for the future.
Our innovative confessions platform has sparked crucial conversations within our university, shedding light on the prevalent mental health issues students face.
I am so grateful that OutLoud was able to contribute to a more open and supportive environment surrounding students' well-being!
