Knowledge Visualization

Every year, millions of people receive a cancer diagnosis worldwide. Communicating a complex disease is challenging and can negatively impact a patient's well-being if done poorly. Current visual representations of cancer in media tend to follow an ominous aesthetic, which is often exaggerated to encourage preventative lifestyle changes. However, the constant use of scary imagery paired with aggressive narratives of fighting a “war on cancer” feeds into a sense of fatalism, which may have adverse effects on the welfare and decision-making of patients regarding treatment. Therefore, how can aesthetics improve communication and learning through visuals while remaining considerate of cancer patients?

This thesis explores alternative ways to present cancer through visual aesthetics to encourage learning and communication of cancer diagnoses and related treatments without causing further fear. Moreover, it investigates how color, lighting, and detail form different aesthetic styles that are perceived by a patient. Thereby, challenging orthodox perceptions and communication narratives of cancer through aesthetic visualization.