CHAPTER 2: MAKING MEANING OUT OF BIG DATA IN HEALTHCARE: VISUAL DESIGNERS’ PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

INTRODUCTION  Designing is a procedural activity that can be practised from diverse perspectives; it involves making plans to create a needed solution. Visually, a design is meant to be specific in the end result and that differentiates it from ‘art’ which often tilts toward more aesthetics. This simply does not mean a design cannot be beautiful; in essence, the crux of a design is both ‘function’ and ‘aesthetics’. A design meant for the sight is visual, this has to do with functional art that can be seen, felt or touched; Such design adopts graphics strategically to create, refine or advance a solution. It is exemplified in package design, branding, information/ book design, prints, advert campaigns, television montages, web design and development, interface design, user experience design, multimedia authoring, industrial art and product design among others. Additionally, it (i.e. visual arts/ design) is a branch of creative arts, sectioned into Fine Arts and Applied Arts (see Fig. 1). As a result, it is about creativity which defines the feel and uniqueness of every result. Creativity is the ability to use clear imagination in the development of new and original ideas or things, especially in the realm of art (Bravolol, 2022). Apart from the skills of the designer which also matters, if a visual design will be outstanding, creativity must not be trivialised. The examples listed above apply to virtually all walks of life including the health sector.    Print and online materials are used in healthcare while health practitioners make use of essential multimedia applications in daily medical practices. Many products are developed innovatively, incorporating visual design. They are relevant medically and non medically for both the patient and the healthcare giver. This is notably exemplified in digital products that store and retrieve health-related data in many folds. The data are so numerous that they are classified as ‘big data’ – non-organised, semi-structured or structured information.  Ordinarily, the health institutions: clinics or large hospitals rely on patients’ records or health data to cater for their patients’ treatment. Care for a patient can take many forms but can be facilitated when quality data are available. Health facilities in Nigeria are not faring badly but in practice, they are yet to fully key into health digitisation. Photius (2019) recorded that health in Nigeria was rated fourth worst in the world, while this is not good, it calls for improvement. The record was later amplified in 2023 in the expression of Schmale Matthias, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, captured by Habib (2023). The Coordinator lamented that Nigeria lags in the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3 inclusive). The highlight of goal 3 by the UN is that there should be good health and well being for all. Regrettably, achieving Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria remains a fantasy without a more inclusive, multi dimensional approach (Alozie, 2020). This shows that all hands must be on deck for concrete results in the area of health; but the Visual designer is only a creative personnel, does that mean such an expert cannot make an impact health-wise? Thus, it is worthy of exploration to determine how such a professional can use visuals to promote care especially from the point of meaningful data storytelling, hence this discourse.