How can we perceive anxiety differently: channeling something negative to become a catalyst for creativity? In the first of a series of lunchtime conversations in the AA Restaurant on how to deal with issues around mental health, designer Sara Lopez will be in conversation with the AA Student Forum to talk about her award-winning Mindnosis project, a creative toolkit to navigate the often-confusing territory of mental health issues. Sara will discuss how coping with stress, anxiety and emotional issues can actually be solved through design.
Sara Lopez is a design consultant at Uscreates, a socially-focused design consultancy specialised in health and wellbeing. She has previously worked with public organisations such as Camden Council, Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust and Homerton University Hospital, where she used service design and co-creation tools to lead user-research, co-design workshops and user engagement. She has also six years experience across product and graphic design for the private sector.
Sara holds a distinction on MA Industrial Design from Central Saint Martins awarded for her self-directed project Mindnosis, a simple and engaging self-assessment system, that helps to navigate mental and emotional distress when experienced for the first time. The toolkit has won a gold award from Creative Conscience, has been showcased in London Brain Project’s exhibition and has been featured in multiple sites across the world. After receiving a small grant Sara is currently developing the project further, hoping to make it available soon.