The Interfaculty Pain Curriculum (IPC), known by students as “Pain Week,” is an innovative educational initiative by the University of Toronto’s Centre for the Study of Pain (UTCSP). Established in 2002, IPC Pain Week was designed to fill critical gaps in pain education, offering an immersive, multidisciplinary approach to pain assessment and management for students across all healthcare disciplines. By fostering a comprehensive understanding of chronic pain, the program aims to prepare future healthcare professionals with the skills needed to provide holistic, patient-centred care.

To support this vision, I developed a brand identity that symbolizes the collaborative, patient-focused mission of IPC Pain Week. The central icon combines three interwoven figures, each representing a distinct part of the healthcare community—health and social care providers, educators, and, at the heart, the patients. This interconnected design emphasizes diversity, collaboration, and the shared goal of improving pain management.

Flowing pages of a book intertwine with the figures, representing the ongoing commitment to knowledge-sharing, innovation, and a forward-looking approach in pain education. This imagery reflects the program’s dedication to interdisciplinary learning and continuous improvement in the field of pain management.

The resulting brand identity captures the ethos of IPC Pain Week as a transformative, inclusive educational initiative that empowers healthcare professionals to advance compassionate and effective pain care.