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The ORIGIN project, spearheaded by Lab4Living, is a transformative initiative that seeks to address young people’s mental health through the power of arts and culture. At the heart of the project is the creation of an online interventional platform designed to gather and share diverse stories, providing a space for young people to connect, explore, and engage with their mental health experiences. A key element of this platform is the collection of 200 unique and hidden stories, which will play a central role in shaping its content.
Inclusivity is a cornerstone of the ORIGIN project. Since the start, the Creative Research Assistants working on the project have prioritised that diverse voices are actively integrated into the design process, in line with the early conceptual framework.
One of the ways this is achieved is through collaboration with young co-designers, many of whom who come from underrepresented backgrounds, including those who may face barriers in accessing traditional mental health support. With the help of the ORIGIN Co-Design Kit, a tool developed to help co-designers explore and engage with archives, the Research Assistants are hoping the contribution of the co-designers will provide a wealth of ideas to develop into stories.
Through workshops and collaborative sessions after ideas are submitted, the Research Assistants will work closely with these young co-designers to ensure their stories, perspectives, & needs are accurately reflected in the platform.
While the Research Assistants wait on these ideas, they’ve been developing stories based on their own ideas & influenced by their own lived experiences. Creative Research Assistant Elizabeth Hopwood explains the thought process behind creatively interpreting the story of non-binary transmasculine runner & activist Cal Calamia.
“Ensuring trans and LGBTQ+ inclusivity in this has been central to my creative process. I have admired Cal Calamia for some time now; not only as an incredibly talented runner, but also as a writer and LGBTQ+ activist.
“Cal is very vocal on LGBTQ+ rights & they share their personal experience of growing up transgender in the hope of helping and providing comfort to young people like them. I knew their story had a place in ORIGIN because of this.
“Based on their poem San Francisco, how I hate and need thee, how you hurt and heal me, the comic explores themes of identity, place, and belonging through Cal’s lens as a trans, non-binary athlete and poet. Their writing is beautiful, and I knew a comic would bring their words to life.”
“Before creating the comic, I decided to research trans representation in comics, as well as Cal Calamia themselves to ensure I was as informed as possible. I decided to call the comic ‘Where Do I Belong’ as Cal’s poem explores being trans and struggling to find a space where they belong. The comic is in grayscale, with pops of red. The red matches the colour used for race numbers at the Chicago Marathon because Cal has come first in the non-binary category multiple times!
“Including Cal’s story in this medium is important because authentic representation of trans and queer experiences is still underrepresented in comics and visual storytelling. By bringing their words to life through illustration, I hope to contribute to broader LGBTQ+ visibility in creative spaces. They also founded the Non-Binary Run Club.”
“Cal’s commitment to ensuring gender equality in athletics is amazing, and they have been instrumental in adding non-binary categories to several major world marathons.”
With these efforts, the ORIGIN project is ensuring that the platform is a truly inclusive and supportive space for young people to share their stories and engage with mental health in a way that is relevant to them. Around 200 stories will be featured on the platform & serve as a testament to the importance of designing interventions that truly reflect the needs of those they aim to serve.