Public Health Murals as Practice-Based Learning

<p>Design has the capacity to improve public health through advancing devices, service strategies, communication, and more. A robust partnership between TEAM Malawi at Virginia Tech (VT) and the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) has brought multiple disciplines together to address women’s health in Malawi. This case study documents the partnership development between institutions, the integration of professional practice in an undergraduate program through a community engagement project in Malawi, and the resulting outcomes for the students and community partners. Students improved their technical skills in painting. They developed a project proposal for approval by their community partner. The faculty was challenged to support the students in off-campus work and still the medical facility welcomed the students to do work on the visual communication of important health facts. After the completion of the pilot project, the group is now pursuing further visual communication work. The significance of this project is the demonstration of a sustainable model of professional practice in design education by setting up working relations between institutions, as well as high impact practices that support professional development for students who further the wellness of their communities.</p>