Welcome to the
Goodbye Guide
I’d like to invite you to become my next collaborator. My name is Steph. I’m a designer and death doula. I help people tell their life stories. Together, we’ll create a thoughtful visual biography filled with memories, reflections, and moments that matter—a gift for the people you love and the ones who will one day carry your stories forward.
What am I looking for in a collaborator?
The ideal collaborator is someone diagnosed with a terminal illness or seeking MAID. They are someone willing to share their story and offer honest feedback on this project. This collaborator is also someone comfortable going deeper than what might appear on a resume. They are open to entering this process with curiosity and openness.
What is a death doula?
International End-Of-Life Doula Association defines an end-of-life doula as a nonmedical companion who provides personalized and compassionate support to individuals, families, and their circles of care as they encounter and navigate death, loss, and mortality. An end-of-life doula advocates self-determination and imparts psychosocial, emotional, spiritual, and practical care to empower dignity throughout the dying process.
https://inelda.org/about-doulas/what-is-a-doula/
What if you or the person you know is in cognitive decline?
That's ok! I have extensive experience working with people of all abilities. I am comfortable adapting my approach to suit the needs of others, and confident that this process can be fruitful for all types of people. Ultimately I wish for the collaborator to guide their own story.
Does this cost anything?
No! It is a gift to you in exchange for your story and support as I try out this project for the first time. Although it is free I will gather process photos and document parts of the final project that will live on my website and social media to inspire future story tellers. Nothing will be shared publicly without your consent.
What is a Visual Biography?
Although there is no clear definition of a visual biography, I imagine it as a life story that looks like part scrapbook, part photo album and part sketchbook. Although these may not be considered Visual Biography, the styles inspired this project; Nora Krug’s Book Belonging and Sara Midda’s South of France - A Sketch Book
What will the process be like?
The process is casual and designed to build trust and familiarity. We begin with a phone call to confirm that you are comfortable with the project. Once you are ready to go we will have 3 in-person story gathering sessions and 2 feedback sessions. During these sessions I will be drawing on my experience with ethnographic research to thoughtfully gather your life story. In these sessions you may share stories, photographs, places of interests and artifacts from your life.
Why am I doing a Goodbye Guide?
From my own personal experience I have witnessed how disjointed grief can be to families that are not prepared to say goodbye to their loved one. This experience has left me wondering in absence of religious and cultural practices that invite collective grief, how can we document the richness of life and invite family and friends to grieve in a way that best reflects the person they have lost. This curiosity has led me to take a death doula training. Following along this path I also wanted to find a way to tie in my background in designing alongside the disability community and the emergency preparedness space.