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The Unspoken Set – A Card-based Tool for expressing the Inexpressible

'The Unspoken Set' is a sensitively designed card system that facilitates nonverbal communication between people with schizophrenia and their partners or family members, creating a common language beyond words. It works as a visual tool that conveys emotional states through colour, symbolism, and emotional archetypes rather than speech.

The set consists of two components: a fixed card system with six main and twelve sub-emotions, and a supplementable 'Blanco Set' for the user's own cards. Instead of clear diagnoses, the focus rests on metaphorical imagery and individual interpretation. An enclosed card holder lets cards be placed visibly in the room as a silent impulse or conversation starter.

The design was evaluated through a qualitative online survey and an interview with an art therapist. The results showed that visual clarity, reduced stimuli, and open levels of meaning ease access and encourage joint discussion. Rather than functioning as therapy, the project combines creative means with emotional resonance as an invitation to encounter, empathy, and understanding.

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