AN Edinburgh Napier student has created a project to discuss health issues in men.
Graphic design student Tegan Bryce’s final year project consists of a bar covered in phrases to get men talking about “typically female issues”.
Studies show that 1 in 10 dads are affected by post-partum depression and anxiety, and Bryce was determined to shine a spotlight on this with her exhibition.
Bryce, 21, has designed a pub – including a bar top, beer pulls, beer mats and stools – that aims to raise awareness and get men talking about what are traditionally viewed as female-only issues.
The project is heavily led by her use of typography, alongside embroidery and handicraft to create the pub set-up.
Asking questions such as “Can men experience hormonal changes due to childbirth?” and “Can men suffer from post-partum depression?”, Bryce has used embroidery to score out key words to highlight the lack of conversation surrounding these issues.
Her bar also incorporates a laser-cut bar top, upcycled bar stools, books, beer mats and vinyl that all come together to raise awareness of these topics and to encourage people to begin to openly talk about them.
For Bryce, her final year project has been an educational journey but one that she feels is incredibly important in helping focus on the lack of conversations around these subjects.
She said: “My work across my fourth year at university has been focused on using design to tackle conversations around taboo subjects, and through reading research and conducting my own, I kept going back to certain subjects such as post-partum depression and infertility.
“We hear lots about how they affect females – and quite rightly so – but we don’t hear as much about how they affect males when they happen.
“Why is that?
“I think good strides have been taken to increase conversations around subjects such as periods and the menopause but there are still subjects that are viewed as ‘taboo’ and I wanted to shine a spotlight on these.
“The bar set-up was a lot of work. I’ve put my heart and soul into it, utilising my graphic design skills and my embroidery skills to hopefully create something that does get people – specifically males – talking more about sensitive subjects.
“If it helps just one person speak out, ask for help and understand better what a friend or family member has been going through, then it has been totally worth it.”
The project is on display at Edinburgh Napier University’s annual Degree Show, which showcases fourth year art and design student’s final projects.
The show runs until June 2 at the university’s Merchiston campus.
