Working with illustration students to inspire people to take part in food and health research
14th March 2025
Last year our Human Studies team took part in a collaborative project with Norwich University of the Arts Illustration course
At the Quadram Institute we run human studies to learn more about how we can improve human health. We are always looking for new ways to communicate our research to the public.
Our Human Studies team work with both scientists, NHS clinicians and research nurses to run human studies as part of our current Food, Microbiome and Health research programme.
Norwich Research Park is one of the largest single-site concentrations of research in food, and health in Europe. Along with being home to world-leading research, Norwich is also home to a top creative arts university, the Norwich University of the Arts.
Last year our Quadram Institute Human Studies Team, together with our Communications team, worked with second year students on the Illustration course at the Norwich University of the Arts. The exciting collaborative project focused on communicating current and upcoming human studies at the Quadram Institute. The key aim of the collaboration was to raise awareness around human studies and encourage participation from those eligible to take part in the research.
Dr Antonietta Hayhoe, Deputy ISP Leader- Food, Microbiome and Health programme, and Head of Human Studies Team says, “It has been absolutely wonderful to work with our Communications team, tutors, and students of the Norwich University of Arts. I have been thoroughly impressed by the students’ dedication, enthusiasm, motivation, and creativity. Their collaborative efforts and impactful work have been invaluable for the human studies delivered by our Food, Microbiome and Health research programme”.
Finding inspiration; illustration students visit to the Quadram Institute
The collaboration involved a visit from the students and their tutor to the Quadram Institute where they saw inside our state-of-the-art laboratories and Clinical Research Facility.
The NIHR Norfolk Clinical Research Facility is run by the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and hosts a range of research studies into various health conditions, involving patients and healthy participants. The collaborative project focused on just a few of these studies, which are part of the Food, Microbiome and Health programme at the Quadram Institute.
The illustration students heard from Dr Olla Al-Jaibaji about the HARVEST study. This study investigates the use of hydroponically grown, biofortified salad greens, and use of a dietary app, on iron and vitamin B12 status in menstruating vegans or vegetarians.
The target audience of the HARVEST resonated with some of the students as Eastyn comments, “I had an immediate connection to this study as I am vegan.”
The students heard about future human studies too. Dr Jennifer Ahn-Jarvis, Food and Health Human Studies Lead talked about an upcoming study exploring the prebiotic potential of peas and bergamot. Plus, the students heard about plans for another study looking at the health benefits of tomatoes developed at the John Innes Centre that produce vitamin D.
After the visit, the students went away to choose which study to focus on and develop their illustration ideas.
Developing illustrations together; feedback at Norwich University of the Arts
Two months after the visit, the Human Studies team from the Quadram Institute visited Norwich University of the Arts to hear the student’s idea and give feedback.
Students’ ideas for illustrations were imaginative and diverse. They ranged from using a fashion zine to communicate the complex process of boosting vitamin D in tomatoes to a digital animation to communicate the prebiotic potential of peas.
Each student explained their idea and inspiration for their illustrations. Second year illustration student Aalia Ashraf’s explains, “My initial ideas for this project revolved around attracting people and bringing attention to the clinical trials. I created a mascot – to be a friendly icon associated with the Harvest Study. The character I designed represents the key components of the Harvest study. The flower figure represents menstruating women, with the hydroponic units and fortified greens in the background.”
Gemma Beasy, Human Studies Facilitator in the human studies team reflects, “This feedback session was hugely exciting. It included talks from the students taking it in turn to discuss their work from the human studies they learnt about in the previous session they attended, including the Harvest study. This was an excellent opportunity to engage with the students and see what amazing and inspiring work they produced.”
Sharing illustration inspired by human studies
Following the feedback session, the illustration students developed their work further to produce final pieces ranging from stamps to promote the HARVEST study to a paper bag for giving biofortified tomatoes to research participants.
Sarah Phillips, Microbiome and Health Human Studies Lead in the human studies team reflects, “I have been blown away by the creativity, the quality, and the diversity of the work that has been produced from Norwich University of the Arts students.”
She continues, “It is so important that our science is communicated well to those outside of the scientific community. The students work is so inviting and accessible, it will help us to engage with a broader community than what we have been able to so far – which will increase the impact of our science.”
Silas Triller adds, “I think the work that the NUA students made was absolutely fantastic. Not only did they manage to take hard conceptual science and turn it into an easy to understand format, they also gave us the opportunity to connect to the wider community.”
BA Illustration Course Leader Gillian Sampsons says, “Working collaboratively, we are able to continue to explore creative connections between science and illustration. The students produced an inspiring range of individual outcomes to engage both the public and scientists with the work at the Quadram Institute. It has been fascinating to work with Ruby O’Grady and the Human Studies team, and to learn how illustration can help support the wider communication of their research.”
Along with producing their individual work, Norwich University of the Arts students worked as a team to produce a publication showcasing their illustrations inspired by food, microbiome and health research.
Plus, students had the opportunity to showcase their work as part of a physical display to NHS staff working in clinical research across the East of England and at the Quadram Institute Heritage Open Day and online.
This year, our Human Studies are working with the Norwich University of the Arts Illustration course again on the collaborative unit to communicate current and upcoming future studies.
Antonietta concludes, “We’re excited to be working collaboratively with Norwich University of the Arts again this year and look forward to see their creativity in responded to new and future human studies here at the Quadram Institute.”
