CHARITÉ BERLIN UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL | Printed by Parkinson's | 2020
For the first time, a disease infected a machine / CHARITÉ BERLIN UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL "Printed by Parkinson's"
A 3D printer is shaking. It's been injected with data from a patient's tremors.
The problem
Parkinson's disease is the fastest-growing neurological disease in the world, a complex condition with more than 40 symptoms. A lack of understanding has bred stigma and isolation. More than 10 million people worldwide suffer from it, but most people only know the surface-level fact that it's "the shaking disease." It was first diagnosed more than 200 years ago, yet there's still no cure. Charité Berlin holds a leading position in Parkinson's research, but making progress required donations.
The insight
It matters for patients to share their stories, but how do you communicate the effects of a disease that's otherwise invisible? From the start, the team knew they'd need to create something extraordinary to capture people's attention. So they decided to build the first machine in history to be infected with a human disease. Using technology to make the everyday struggles of patients visible—the sheer strength of that idea stands out.
The idea
Six patients were asked to name a cherished object that had become difficult to use because of their Parkinson's. Their movement and neurological data was recorded, creating six unique datasets. Each artwork was 3D printed while the printer itself was affected by that individual patient's tremor data—making visible the impact Parkinson's has on everyday life. Objects that should be straight—a pen, a camera, a kayak paddle, a chainsaw—came out warped and distorted. Video interviews with the patients shed light on the personal stories behind each artwork.
What happened
The collection launched on World Brain Day and was exhibited in Berlin. Hundreds of people, from doctors to patients to art lovers, attended the opening. At Eurobest 2020, the project won two Grand Prix awards, in the Design and Creative Data categories, plus a Gold in Health & Wellness. The work was presented at medical conferences across Europe and is now on permanent display at Charité's neurology department, encouraging every patient to speak up. Online, the stories helped educate people about early symptoms, disease progression, and the latest treatments.
Afterthought
A machine "catching" a disease isn't something that normally happens. But making that happen is exactly the heart of this project. The Eurobest jury chair praised it as "a very unique and truly original idea," noting how technology was used in a genuinely creative and innovative way to communicate an important and sensitive message. A patient's tremor data isn't just numbers—it's a life. Turning it into art makes invisible pain visible. This, I think, is what advertising work can be at its best.
Awards
- Cannes Lions Gold 2020
