DESIGN QUESTION – How to promote Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to young adults of chinese people through communication design?

China has developed at an unprecedented rate in the past four decades. However, this development causes some serious issues in China, such as the lost of cultural lost and worship of money. The impact of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is representative of one of the changes taking place in China. This thesis will study how to promote TCM to young Chinese adults between 20 to 35 years old. People’s values and tastes have changed while TCM still holds the old styles. Therefore, TCM cannot meet young adults’ requirements. Moreover, inconvenience and not fashion are the crucial reasons for people being unwilling to understand Chinese medicine. Therefore, it is necessary to provide an approach to encourage people to understand TCM. Furthermore, dietary therapy could be the start point, because it is familiar to the audience and convenient for people to try. It is necessary to study the audience and find the appropriate communication design methods based on the target groups and the intention of encouraging more understanding of TCM. By using the communication design methods, especially information design methods, a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Self-Service System was designed. The system has been published on a website, as a communication channel. To popularize TCM dietary therapy and to encourage young people understand TCM theories is the main aim of this project.

There are three reasons for TCM’s declining:
1. There are some misconceptions of TCM. Some people don’t really understand TCM.
2. TCM is not convenient; it is not fit the high pace of life
3. Some people think TCM is out of fashion

As a designer, I would like to use visual language to deal these problems.
Target audience is: Young Chinese aged from 19-35 years old, with high education.
I am designing a new TCM information system for people to understand the concept of TCM. Also this system is a self-service clinic for people to deal with their symptoms by TCM therapy, like diet therapy and points massage. The system is clear, easy to use, save time and with stylish design.

Biography: Graphic Designer, Illustrator