Jurnal Alzheimer:
Preserving Memories, Fostering Understanding
LONDON, 2024
Studio : Personal
Role : Research, Strategy, Visual Identity & Design Development
Result : A grassroots platform that empowers families, builds supportive networks, and helps shift cultural narratives around Alzheimer’s in Indonesia.
Every story shared becomes a thread, weaving understanding and compassion into the fabric of the community.
Alzheimer’s disease is often misunderstood in Indonesia, especially in Yogyakarta, where cultural beliefs and lack of awareness make diagnosis and treatment more difficult. Jurnal Alzheimer was created as a storytelling platform that gathers the voices of families and caregivers, turning their experiences into a collective narrative.
By blending design with local culture, the project helps communities better understand the realities of Alzheimer’s and fosters compassion and support.
By embracing local symbols and family voices, Jurnal Alzheimer turns awareness into connection, and connection into care.
Challenge
Alzheimer’s not only erodes memory but also reshapes relationships, leaving families and caregivers to become the living archives of their loved ones’ stories.
In Yogyakarta, where cultural beliefs and limited awareness already make Alzheimer’s difficult to address, the challenge was to raise understanding in a way that feels culturally familiar and supportive. Jurnal Alzheimer needed to create space for families to cherish fading memories, share experiences, and reshape how the community perceives the disease.
Approach
Jurnal Alzheimer was shaped through deep listening and cultural sensitivity. Inspired by Batik motifs and local symbols, the identity carries familiarity and warmth, helping the community connect emotionally to the initiative. The platform was designed not just as a resource, but as a companion for caregivers.
Two key tools were created:
- An online digital kit for sharing and archiving stories.
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A physical kit with progress journals, caregiver diaries, and memory aids, designed for families in rural areas with limited access to digital tools.
Both kits encourage reflection, storytelling, and quality time between families and their loved ones, making Alzheimer’s less isolating and more understood.
The Story So Far
Jurnal Alzheimer successfully turned cultural symbols into bridges of awareness. Families and caregivers now have tools to document their experiences, share their stories, and find community support. The initiative not only raised local understanding of Alzheimer’s but also fostered empathy—transforming the way the disease is perceived in Yogyakarta.