Updated Project Overview

Topic:

Craft as a Therapeutic Tool

(Previous topic: Art vs. Craft)

Rationale:

When originally choosing a senior thesis topic in September, my objective was to explore the argument of art vs. craft, immerse myself in the indie craft culture, create and sell my own crafts for further investigation and create branding, packaging and a catalog of my process. After sitting with my mom during one of her chemotherapy treatments at Siteman Cancer Center, I realized that I could integrate my thesis topic with her treatments by using the physical act of creating crafts as a therapeutic tool for cancer patients. Art activities are offered in the waiting room at Siteman, but most patients only spend a short period of time in the waiting room before treatment. Upon leaving the waiting room, patients are ushered back to a chemotherapy “pod,” which is a small room lined with chairs and beds, where they spend up to 8 hours receiving infusions. There are usually 6 people in each room (each is allowed one visitor). I have spent the past few months observing how patients and their visitors pass the time. Most watch television, read, sleep or talk with other patients. I plan on providing a way for patients and their visitors to productively entertain themselves during the patients treatment. 

Objective:

The final product will be a craft kit targeting women undergoing chemotherapy treatment or their visitors. The kit will include materials and illustrated instructions detailing how to complete five different craft projects. Each of the five projects will be color coded and ranked according to their level of difficulty and physical energy required to complete. The use of the kits will also promote camaraderie among patients and nurses by encouraging the patient to give the craft as a gift upon its completion. After the kits have been created, I plan to set up a blog where patients can share their experiences. The blog will feature videos with step-by-step instructions for each craft, in case a patient prefers video instructions to the printed instructions. 

Preliminary Craft Ideas, currently being tested:

Origami Paper Wallet

Decorated Paper Gift Box

Bright Yarn Lei

Fuzzy Pom Pom Caterpillar

Overstuffed Band Aid with pocket (to include a healing message)

Cozy Knitted Scarf

Evaluation:

My project is a success if patients enjoy creating the crafts and sharing their finished projects with their family, fellow patients or nurses, while creating a sense of community within their chemotherapy “pod.”