Can hormone
levels and diet
work in tandem
to improve
self-esteem?
Role: Research, concept & brand developer
Objective: Explore user-centred design
Brief:
To conceptualise, build, and establish a visual identity
for a toolkit designed improve low self-esteem
Big Idea:
Using cookery to tackle loneliness and teach new skills
The above diagram details how the toolkit would work as a system that subconciously implements positive changes and reminders into the daily routine of the toolkit user!
Did you know that depending on the stage in your monthly hormone cycle (for AFAB people), certain foods can help regulate your hormone levels. Such foods have been shown to improve emotional wellbeing and mental clarty (to an extent of course)!
For instance salmon, and other fish and foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, can help reduce inflamation in the body and manage abdominal pain.
Furthermore, learning a new skill, such as the art of cookery, has been proven to improve self-esteem. This occurs through an influx of pride from the newly learnt skill and the happiness that can be felt from being creative.
I chose cookery as my skill for my kit to teach as although it could be regarded as a basic life skill it is just that, a life skill. Using cookery as the skill helps incorporate it directly into the users routine without having to find time in their day; Cooking and meal prep is a part of daily life for most.
Finally the positivive emotional reinforcement cards and the mood journal work hand-in-hand with each other to conciously reinforce a sense of self-worth and optimism into the users life. The journal acts as a reflection log on which the user can reflect on their emotional journey and improvemet (+if their emotional journey is a little bumpy, the journal may be able to provide evidence that athough some days can be not-so-great, there are also some greatly positive days sprinkled in there too!)
