A&D ANNUAL 2021

Cindy Dinh

Preadolescent children are considered most vulnerable when coping with a cancer diagnosis of a significant adult in their lives; however, they possess limited access to age-appropriate resources. Expanding on the cancer investigations of researchers Angelita Martini, Julia Morris, Hayley Jackson, and Jeneva Ohan, 'Cancer Convos' is informed by actor-network theory. In response to a reflective practice and co-design methodology, graphic design is utilised to facilitate educational opportunities for preadolescent children on the complex topic of adult cancer in their immediate family.'Cancer Convos' is a cancer education kit available on a website to print and self-assemble at home. The resource is intended for home life as an introduction to instigate cancer communication and understanding between affected adults and children. The kit consists of three-card sets under the categories ‘Word’, ‘Question’, and ‘Scenario’, also a tuck box for storage convenience. Each card displays standard cancer terms and their meaning, common cancer queries and answers, or everyday cancer situations and responses for preadolescent children. The 'Cancer Convos' cards contain informative, emotional, and practical functions, with coloured and colour-in editions available. The aim is to assist adults to interact with their children through assembling the kit.