The Visualising Issues in Pharmacy project challenges a diverse body of students, educators, professional mentors and special guests to address important global health issues by producing detailed research reports and subsequent visual communication campaigns for implementation in specific local hospitals and health centres in Kenya, Africa. Pharmacy and graphic design students from around the world collaborating online to raise public awareness of critical health issues.

The VIP project (Visualising Issues in Pharmacy) was the first fully online international education initiative designed to link students and teachers in Pharmacy and Graphic Design departments from universities and colleges around the world. Over 50 pharmacy students and 50 design students joined forces for three months (April - June) with project convenors, teachers and special guests worldwide, to work collaboratively within The Omnium Projects’s fully online learning environment. Participants formed valuable connections with colleagues in distant parts of the world, receiving regular feedback and support from peers, teachers and established professionals, using the Internet as their sole communication tool.

This unique and innovative approach to collaborative education, research and ethical debate, also aimed to promote increased social awareness and proactive involvement worldwide amongst students, pharmacists, health organisations, graphic designers, professional bodies and education institutions.

VIP was the second in a series of free, non-profit, international Creative Waves projects for students and their teachers and formed the world’s first fully online education project that links students and teachers from Pharmacy and Graphic Design departments from universities and colleges around the world.

VIP is produced, directed and funded by The Omnium Research Group at the College of Fine Arts, University of New South Wales (Australia) and was written in collaboration with the School of Pharmacy (University of Auckland, NZ). This project was produced in collaboration with the International Council of Graphic Design Associations and hasd support from the Fédération Internationale Pharmaceutique, Universitas 21 and International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation.