The potential of design expression in the field of mental health:
Development of a conceptual variable display typeface to raise awareness about eating disorders.
Joana Teixeira
Online campaign + digital font + typographic specimen
Leveraging the expressive power of typography, a variable typeface was developed to subtly reflect some of the sensations and characteristics of living with these disorders, without reinforcing stereotypes. For example, pronounced serifs, representing social isolation, serve as a metaphor for protective mechanisms. By uniting design and education, the project aimed to show how graphics can raise awareness and inform, highlighting the crucial role of designers in promoting mental health and addressing these disorders, which increasingly affect people worldwide.
This research project, developed as part of the master’s program in graphic design and editorial projects at FBAUP, involved creating an online campaign to raise awareness about the three most common eating disorders—anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder—and to help with prevention.
Curricular Unit:
Dissertation/Project/Internship (2nd year)
Supervising Professor:
Pedro Amado