Skip to main content
Merrily: on high sensitivity, the power of design, and visiting the Bahamas
LinkedIn Share Twitter Share Facebook Share Email Share

This month we speak to Merrily Hall, Learning Experience Developer at Compass …

I am a part of the Compass team helping to develop therapist training programmes, patient applications, and offer design support across many of our projects. My background spans all areas of learning and education and I’m also a graphic designer. I love being able to integrate these three skills into my role here at Compass 

I work in mental health care because … it is critically important. I have witnessed the devastating impact of mental health struggles on people’s lives, and it deeply saddens me. I believe making a positive impact on even one person’s life is incredibly kind, worthwhile, and simply the right thing to do. Compass’s mission and values resonate deeply with my own 

The part of my job I most enjoy is … helping others. Whether it be participants taking part in our research, or the teams that support them, I enjoy being able to do things that make other people’s jobs easier, make their world more colourful–I love making a difference, no matter how small 

The best place I’ve ever visited is … Norman’s Cay. I was fortunate to spend 10 days on this stunning out-island in the Exumas, Bahamas, when the first 10 guest cottages were built. As one of only four guests on the entire island, we had a three-mile stretch of the most beautiful sandy beach all to ourselves. The turquoise water was so clear that you could see your feet. It was truly heaven on earth 

My dream one day is to … complete my PhD, which focuses on the connection between high sensitivity and the use of design to mediate it. As an advocate for highly sensitive individuals, I believe their contributions are often overlooked as they are a frequently silent minority. My research aims to highlight this remarkable population through the use of colour and design, and I hope to showcase my work at the V&A museum 

The book everyone should read is …Night’ by Elie Wiesel. This deeply personal account details the author’s experiences in Nazi prison camps in Germany. I was fortunate to have Professor Wiesel as a visiting professor during my undergraduate years. His story and presence left an indelible impression on me about the resilience of the human soul 

LinkedIn Share Twitter Share Facebook Share Email Share