I’m someone who’s primarily a visual learner (though, there have been times when I’ve learned things through listening), so designing a symbol to give a voice to the majority of Americans who support stem cell research seems to be a very practical and obvious endeavor. Not being a professional designer quite yet, I was given the task of researching the scientific background of stem cells and “bottom-lining” the overwhelming scientific information for the designers. Not an easy task.

At first, I thought the best way to handle this assignment was to visit websites of groups representing potential patient beneficiaries such as the Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s foundations. I was interested specifically in how they thought stem cells would help their afflicted populations. I thought I’d get a tailored, scientific summary and that I’d learn what medical techniques could be used to harvest the cells. Overall, these sites were useful in offering general information and offered lots of hypothetical scenarios about how stem cells (particularly embryonic stem cells) could play a significant role, both therapeutically and in curing disease, but I still felt the designers would need a more scientific primer to begin their work.

For an introduction to stem cells, I decided to go straight to the source of all the drama – the United States government. The National Institute of Health (NIH) is an arm of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). If the DHHS were a human body, NIH would probably make up its two legs. It’s charged with performing and supporting medical research in this country, as well as helping facilitate research around the world. It is here that President Bush forced the U.S. Government to stop doling out Federal funds to research facilities for embryonic stem cell research. And, it is here that President Bush decentralized the chain of command and prevented facilities from collaborating and coordinating their activities: specifically in the area of embryonic stem cells. However, it is also here that you can still get unbiased, scientific information regarding all types of stem cells.

The information from NIH, coupled with the information from patient advocacy groups easily explains the stem cell story, which stands at the very center of this ‘controversial’ subject. In the end, what was given to the designers was a basic primer outlining what each stem cell is and why one type is more viable than another. Embryonic stem cells topped the list, due to their nearly infinite regenerative and undifferentiated properties; fetal stem cells came second because although they can morph into almost any cell in the body, they also have a finite ability to multiply. All the scientific information available across all media showed adult stem cells to be the least feasible due to their limited ability to replicate, and their hindered plasticity in becoming any type of cell in the body.

I also incorporated some socioeconomic implications that may occur if the political and scientific communities continue with their current mindsets. For example, concerns that individuals in higher socioeconomic groups would be more likely to have access to potential stem cell remedies in the future. In short, I tried to give the designers a snapshot of a very large body of science as well as some of the social implications that might result from the advances. In doing so, I hope I provided them with the building blocks they need to understand what lies at the core of their mission.