The University of Calgary’s new initiative is exploring connections between brain trauma and mental health.
The Mental Health Initiative for Stress and Trauma (MIST) was developed at the University of Calgary’s Hotchkiss Brain Institute, at the Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education. MIST was created to honour a beloved Calgarian, Mike McClay, who died by suicide—a tragedy that was potentially linked to lasting trauma from a severe concussion sustained two years earlier. This initiative brings together leading neuroscientists, physicians, and clinical researchers to study connections between major depression, PTSD, and post-concussion syndrome, and how emotional stress and physical trauma affect the brain.
Designing the MIST website was a highly collaborative process, bringing together input from UCalgary leaders and researchers, and the McClay family. With so many voices at the table, my first priority was developing detailed wireframes to organize the breadth of content in a clear and balanced way. Working within the University of Calgary’s brand standards and Drupal platform meant design flexibility was limited to predefined modules, fonts, and colour palettes. My creative challenge was less about inventing new visual elements and more about making thoughtful choices within those constraints, focusing on structuring information and crafting layouts that guided users naturally through the story. To give the site authenticity, I advocated for the creation of custom photography, ensuring that visitors saw real MIST researchers doing vital work. The finished website serves as a key tool within the MIST initiative, communicating groundbreaking research, facilitating donations, building awareness, and supporting efforts to destigmatize mental health challenges.
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