Rachel Nolan

Beyond the Blood Bank

Blood shortages present a significant challenge to healthcare systems worldwide, with increasing demand and insufficient donation rates threatening the ability to provide timely care, especially for trauma patients and individuals undergoing complex surgeries. This project, "Beyond the Blood Bank," explores innovative approaches to addressing these shortages through speculative design, focusing on alternative transfusion solutions such as synthetic and animal-derived blood.

The project investigates three key areas. First, it aims to understand public attitudes and behaviors surrounding blood donation, which are crucial for identifying barriers and motivators to participation. Second, it delves into the scientific advancements and ethical considerations surrounding emerging transfusion technologies. Finally, the project uses design as a tool to provoke public reflection and engagement with these complex issues.

The primary deliverable of the project is a VR interactive installation that invites visitors to immerse themselves in a speculative future where traditional blood donation may no longer suffice. The installation encourages open-ended reflection by exploring the possibilities of synthetic and animal-derived blood, without providing definitive answers or moral judgments. By creating a space for thoughtful engagement, the installation prompts visitors to consider how society might address future blood shortages and the ethical dilemmas that could arise as new transfusion technologies emerge.

Through this project, the goal is to spark critical conversation about the future of blood donation and its potential alternatives. It contributes to public discourse on the evolving landscape of transfusion medicine while encouraging participants to think deeply about how we might navigate a future shaped by technological innovation.