How might we use storytelling to reduce stigma and create awareness towards bipolar disorder?

Peacefully Petulant is a short animated web comic depicting an episode of manic depression.

Hochschule Darmstadt, 2014
2 Months (Individual)

Problem Area

There is a lot of stigma surrounding manic depression with very little awareness about it. Numerous casual conversations revealed a meek understanding and utter ignorance towards the mental disorder.

Designing a Solution

Peacefully Petulant is a short animated web comic depicting an episode of manic depression.

Research and interviews helped shape a very visual personal understanding of the disorder. Based on the narration of the experiences of someone who suffered from episodes of manic depression, motion and visual storytelling were used to attempt to catch a glimpse of the mixture of extreme emotions.

Ongoing GIF animations make the energy felt during bouts of mania more impactful.

Glimpses into Research and Understanding

In order to expose the reader to some of the important facts about the disorder, a small + sign was placed at the corner of certain panels. Hovering the pointer over this sign reveals more background attached to that panel.

View Interactive Comic

Bibliography and suggested reading:

Madness: A Bipolar Life by Marya Hornbacher (2008)"

An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness by Kay Redfield Jamison (1996)

Bipolar Disorder - National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Bipolar Disorder Statistics - Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)