Gut Glyphs


Narrative experience, card game, risograph print, lasercut

Gut Glyphs is a collaborative educational toolkit for elementary young learners aged 8-11 and their parents that explores the vital mutualistic relationship between humans and microorganisms, detailing the ecosystem and functions of the gut microbiome.




Challenge + Insight

Highlighting the importance of gut health, the toolkit addresses a critical knowledge deficit - with studies showing that only about 60% of adults are unaware of the consequences of poor gut health. 
Gut Glyphs aims to enlighten families on the significance of a balanced diet and a healthy microbiome, encouraging beneficial health practices for all ages.

The theoretical frameworks that underpin Gut Glyphs draw from multispecies perspectives and understanding life beyond the anthropocene, from Pau’s Let our Ferments Foment Us manifesto to Flachs and Orkin’s Fermentation and the Ethnobiology of Microbial Entanglement research journal. These frameworks provide a deeper context and nuanced understanding of the microbiome, challenging the current microbiopolitics of bacteria and highlighting their indispensable role in our maintaining our health.


Design Elements

The toolkit, guided by the perspective of Lactie, a lactobacillus bacteria, features anaglyphic cards designed to reveal hidden information. The toolkit includes tactile tools such as stamps and red filters, which make scientific concepts accessible and memorable for young audiences. 
Structured into three segments, it first introduces the gut microbiome, then explores its symbiotic relationship with humans, and finally highlights the significant role of diet in maintaining this balance. The third segment includes interactive discussion prompts that foster meaningful conversations between children and parents, bridging knowledge gaps and enhancing collective learning.