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Gabriela Cladellas 

MA Design for Change

Gabriela is a Salvadoran/Spanish Strategic Designer with a multidisciplinary humanitarian background. Passionate about design as a tool for change and social innovation, she has a proven track record in creating impactful solutions that focus on users and communities to generate value and improve lives. Skilled in design thinking, data communication, and social behavior change (SBC), with a human-centered approach and more than 8+ years of experience.

It all started by challenging the concept of 'hunger' and its intricate connection to broader systems and food security.
It concluded in the creation of a single visualisation, aimed at empowering individuals with the knowledge of food insecurity, enabling engagement and transformation of our current food systems. As the storytelling unfolds from the center (individual) to the outer layers (drivers), it establishes connections between systems, food security pillars and malnutrition.
Attempting to construct my own visualization led me to develop something resembling the technical frameworks analysed. This failure in visualisation helped me further understand the gaps where hunger appeared correlated to areas of food insecurity (red circles).
Comprehending crucial concepts around Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger and its implications can pose a challenge depending on one’s familiarity with the terms.
While many visualisations discuss hunger or food systems (most of the circular visualisations), they often serve as isolated silos rather than contributing to a holistic understanding of food security, compared to framework visualisations - still too technical.
The iterative process involved continuous cycles of research, feedback, and annotations. While the presentation here follows a linear structure for clarity, the actual process was dynamic, marked by constant loops of terms and drivers.
The six pillars identified within the definition of food security (FAO et al., 2023).
FRAMING HUNGER

This project is more than just research on ‘hunger and food security’; it is a journey of understanding—an attempt to empower each of us with the knowledge to navigate, contribute to the transformation of our system, and tackle hunger.

Change, from text to visual representation is needed. Technical information must be visually translated to facilitate justice through knowledge. Design should be harnessed as a social tool, not only to create appealing visuals but also to promote understanding and shift behaviours.


Download - Poster PDF Download - Artefact Storyline Seque PDF

Visualising data and systems to explain complex issues concerning food security.

‘Hunger is not a single sensation in our bellies; it is a grumbling sound felt globally as a result of our failing system.’ The current system is broken, with hunger being a pillar of this failing structure. Hunger is not solved only with food. Having food and accessing it may not guarantee its lasting availability, and individuals might compromise food quality and quantity, creating an insecure link to food.

There is a need to shift focus, starting with understanding terms and developing sustainable solutions. The report begins to connect how we measure hunger, fund efforts, and communicate about hunger, revealing unseen connections that exacerbate systemic hunger. Stakeholders and donors, who hold significant financial power, need to comprehend the severity of the problem from a wider systemic lens to invest in developing funds while maintaining emergency funds.

The research emphasizes systemic hunger and the need to connect drivers and components between conflict, climate change, migration, food systems, and nutrition. Moreover, there is a lack of visual literature on hunger for those outside the humanitarian world, or it exists within highly technical reports, making it challenging for a broader audience. This research concludes with a first attempt visual artefact to connect key aspects of the food security system.

Each person has the right and responsibility to fight hunger, regardless of location or income. While the humanitarian world plays a significant role, individuals must and can also contribute to peace, stability, improved food quality and a sustainable planet.


Download - Poster PDF Download - Artefact Storyline Seque PDF
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