Mental health poster series for download

In August 2010 I designed a series of posters on the subject of mental health. These caused a lot of discussion and controversy, here and further afield.

Since then I have been inundated with requests for prints – sorry if I didn’t get back to you. I have decided to offer these for download (just click on the poster).

I hope that these will benefit anyone who wants to use, print or post them.

If you would like to use them in a commercial capacity, please contact me to discuss options.

Mental Health poster series by Patrick Smith is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Two great films. Two very similar posters.

I just noticed this. Anyone else see it before?

My view on gender identity has been challenged

In August 2010 I created a series of posters that tried to define 7 Mental Disorders. My aim was to start a dialogue in the digitally savvy community and hopefully raise awareness by spreading the posters. As a long term goal I wanted to involve a mental health charity. I shelved the project due to time constraints.

I have since decided to remove one poster from the series. Here’s why.

As part of this series I included Gender Indentity Disorder (GID). A number of people have expressed discomfort with the definition of GID as a disorder. Here are a few of the comments:

‘I would like to throw it out there that I don’t view my gender identity as a disorder. I am not ill nor do I need to be cured. There are likely others out there who have ‘mental disorders’ who feel the same way.’

‘Gender Identity disorder is actually really offensive to trans people. When was the last time you heard of a mental disorder being cured by plastic surgery? That’s because G.I.D is not really a disorder.’

‘I’m in line with some others here though, that “Gender Identity Disorder” is along the lines of how homosexuals are often interpreted as needing spiritual counseling to “reform”.’

I would like to apologise for the inclusion of GID in this poster series and to anyone that I may have offended.

My research was based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and I didn’t challenge any of the definitions before commiting them to design. Perhaps I should have.

After reflection and more research I now consider the definition of GID as a disorder, to be incorrect. I haven’t thought about this subject at great length before, so it has been interesting to challenge my own perceptions.

I have learned something valuable in this process. I hope that you will too.

Tanya Johnston

A beautiful balance of illustration, photography and graphic design edge from Tanya Johnston

via TSA

The Splendiferous Array of Culinary Tools

If you like cooking, infographics or tools you might just love this poster by Pop Chart Lab

Push it Backwards by Matthew Lyons

There’s not much I can say about this comic by Matthew Lyons that will do it justice. For me it hits the mark in so many places – just see for yourself.

This is his submission to Nobrow’s A Graphic Cosmogony.

Marten hi-fi site designed by me

This month saw the launch of a site that I designed last year for high end audio brand Marten

This is my Fiancée’s company, so I am biased, but these speakers are amazing in terms of sound reproduction and product design.

I’m really proud of this site as I think it’s on the money for the brand. It features some slick photography from Ulf Celander

Wrapping paper by Happy F&B

A lovely idea for wrapping paper by Swedish design agency Happy F&B amongst other great work. Thank TSA

Scroll down

Sound advice for 2011

I’m not a great believer in New Year’s resolutions, as I think they mostly set you up for failure, but this is sound advice from Sarah Mick for 2011. I for one will be following suit.

Nike Better World

This is the best website that I’ve seen all year. Ok, so I’m making a bad joke, but the statement still stands. And it’s a damned good start if this is what we can expect from the web in 2011.

Happy New Year.

Happy Christmas

Happy Christmas everyone. And thanks for reading, looking, listening and watching this year.

My card is a design for a Christmas tree, and an homage to one of my design heroes Jaime Hayón

Looking forward to an even more creative 2011 with you all. All the best!