Fever Tree - Continued Research

Malaria No More UK

I learnt a lot just from reading the opening page of the Malaria No More UK website, I am quite uneducated about this topic and am hoping to improve on that very quickly. Half the population of the entire world is at risk from malaria, the most vulnerable people being children under five and pregnant women. Since 2000, the number of deaths from malaria has halved which has meant 4.3million lives have been saved. Malaria No More UK believes that beating malaria entirely is within reach. Other companies are already partnered with this charity and I looked at the Jack Wills Products available in support of the charity. The product is clearly part of the Jack Will's range with just subtle additions of things relating to Malaria No More. For example the bracelet has a small tag with the map of Africa on it which is a symbol of where some of the proceeds will be going to help people. These subtle details made me think about how much of the design needs to be focussed on the Fever Tree branding identity and how much needs to link to malaria. I think the more subtle nods to the charity will be more effective because the main design needs to fit in with the rest of the fever tree products. I am also wary of glamourising the symbols of a disease by making the design really elegant and beautiful when it is actually a shocking reality.

Facts About Malaria

• Malaria is caused by the Plasmodium parasite.
• The disease spreads to humans when they are bitten by an infected mosquito. 
• There are different types of the parasite but only five cause malaria in humans. 
• The plasmodium parasite is spread by female anopheles mosquitos which usually bite during the night time.
• Malaria cannot be spread from person to person without something being the middleman, for example blood transfusions, sharing of needles or an uninfected mosquito which then becomes infected after biting a human with malaria.
• When bitten, the parasite will travel through your bloodstream to the liver where they will then be recirculated. The parasites multiply in the red blood cells until they burst. At these intervals where the bloodless burst, the body will experience fever, chills and sweating. 
• If it gets worse, the red blood cells will not be able to carry oxygen around the body resulting in severe anaemia. Or, blood vessels leading to the brain can become blocked leading to seizures or brain damage. 

Facts About Quinine

• Quinine is a white crystalline alkaloid with a bitter taste and some healing properties. 
• It reduces fevers, relaxes muscles, is a painkiller, anti-inflammatory and antimalarial.
• Quinine was the first drug to effectively treat malaria in the west in the 1600s and had remained to be the most common treatment until the 1940s where other effective drugs were used too. 
• It also treats lupus and arthritis. 
• It is usually provided in salt form. 
• Quinine is fluorescent under UV light. 
• It is a flavour component in tonic water and bitter lemon. 
• Peruvians would take the bark of cinchona trees, grind it and mix it with sweetened water to balance the bitter taste of the quinine - the first tonic water.