Abstracts Communications and the Arts

Strategies for Graphic Design aimed at the MultipleSclerosis Community: The Development of the Inclusion Framework toAssist in Design Thinking and Visual CommunicationArtifacts

by Andrew Brian Fogle

This thesis will address the challenges of living with MS by researching visual communication in a printed context to ensure that current best practices are creating accessible and comprehensible communications for this audience. The primary and secondary research will focus on three specific symptoms common in the community. Visual impairment, cognitive changes and fatigue are key manifestations of the MS community and the symptoms that could be most affected by inaccessible design choices. The following thesis research has four main purposes: 1.) to describe the nature of and the need for accessible print communications by addressing the challenges of living with MS; 2.) to access and identify issues related to the current system of print communications, if any; 3.) survey and interact with the MS community in reference to print communications and visual methods; and 4.) create a framework for design teams working on communications that serve people within the Multiple Sclerosis community. Advisors/Committee Members: Visocky O'Grady, Ken (Advisor).