Healthpunk

Using illustration-based design to create a website for speculative health futures

Authors

Keywords:

Planetary Health, Science Fiction, Illustration, Website Design

Abstract

Healthpunk is an emerging framework for activating speculative methods and futures thinking as a tool for transformative change for planetary health. The term “healthpunk” echoes other “punk” movements in science fiction, such as cyberpunk and steampunk, and especially hopepunk, which stresses the importance of hopeful futures amid challenging times (Romano, 2018). The imaginative challenge consists of envisioning futures in which health, environmental, and social challenges are addressed in an integrated manner that advances safe and just flourishing for people and the planet alike (Maric, Nikolaisen, Bårdsen, 2021; Maric, Chattopadhyay, Webb, 2026). The healthpunk website, healthpunk.co, seeks to draw the reader into a space of imaginative speculation, even before the first word is read. The website is run on WordPress using the Divi theme and builder.  All illustrations were created by a professional illustrator (one of the authors of this submission) using a WACOM Cintiq 24 PT and Affinity Studio creative software.

 

Author Biographies

  • Filip Maric, UiT The Arctic University of Norway

    Filip Maric (PhD) is an Associate Professor at UiT The Arctic University of Norway, where he teaches public health, occupational health, research skills, and a variety of other subjects to physiotherapy and occupational therapy students. He is also a member of the UiT sustainability team tasked to refine and implement the sustainability strategy for the northernmost university in the world, and a member of a dedicated task force mandated to develop a new sustainability and innovation subject for all Master students at UiT. Filip’s interests and research span widely across planetary health, environmental physiotherapy, sustainability studies, the environmental and health humanities, and more. 

  • Heike Jane Zimmermann
    Heike Jane Zimmermann is an illustrator, artist and graphic designer based in Tromsø, Norway. Her illustrations and art often explore ecological themes while blending fiction with reality. Jane regularly collaborates with scientists in a variety of ways to find new ways to communicate scientific knowledge and new ways to look at and investigate the world. Illustration-based design: https://miucreative.com/  Ecological science and fiction art: https://limnlines.com/ Children’s book and science communication for kids: https://www.pixiepencil.com/

References

Maric, F., Chattopadhyay, B., & Webb, J. (2026). Healthpunk: Speculative Methods for Futures of Planetary Health. The Lancet Planetary Health, in print.

Maric, F., Nikolaisen, L.J., & Bårdsen, Å. (Eds.). (2021). Physiopunk Vol 1. Environmental Physiotherapy Association. https://healthpunk.co/project/physiopunk-vol1/

Romano A. (2018). Hopepunk, the latest storytelling trend, is all about weaponized optimism. Vox. https://www.vox.com/2018/12/27/18137571/what-is-hopepunk-noblebright-grimdark. Accessed 20 Dec 2024.

A collage of website pages using colourful and fantastical illustrations to frame and provide background to a series of anthologies of speculative fiction stories about the future of health.

Downloads

Published

2026-03-20

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 1 (2026)

Section

Creative Materials

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Filip Maric, Heike Jane Zimmermann

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Maric, F., & Zimmermann , H. J. (2026). Healthpunk: Using illustration-based design to create a website for speculative health futures. Septentrio Creative, 1(1). Retrieved from https://septentrio.uit.no/index.php/creative/article/view/8442