• I Design Reveals HIV Community Video on World AIDS Day
  • The I Design team wants you to get vocal on World AIDS Day. Pictured from left to right is photographer Duane Cramer, fashion designer Mondo Guerra and music industry insider Maria Davis.
  • Members of the HIV Community chose their own words to individualize an I Design poem; most commonly used words were amassed to create an overall Community poem reflective of their collective voices.
  • Infographic showing how the HIV community came together to create this commemorative World AIDS Day poem.

Merck’s HIV Education Campaign, I Design, Reveals Video and Poem Created by the HIV Community in Honor of World AIDS Day

Collective Voice of Community Embodies Culmination of “Getting Vocal” About Individualized Treatment around the Country

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J., December 1, 2014 / PR Newswire / — Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, is commemorating World AIDS Day by spotlighting the voices of HIV patients, caregivers and advocates through an HIV Community video and poem. The video and poem are a culmination of the Community “getting vocal” about HIV treatment around the country as part of Merck’s national HIV education campaign, I Design.
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Throughout the year, I Design team members and HIV advocates—Project Runway alumnus and Under the Gunn star Mondo Guerra, music industry insider Maria Davis and acclaimed photographer Duane Cramer—encouraged Community members to participate in these activities, which aimed to help them speak up about HIV treatment.

The Community became one voice in this commemorative video, a compilation of individuals reciting the I Design verse, “My Voice,” in their own unique way. Community members also chose their own words from a word list to individualize an I Design poem—the most commonly used words were amassed to create an overall Community poem reflective of their collective voices.

About I Design
I Design is a national HIV education campaign led by Merck that aims to empower people living with HIV to take an active role in their healthcare by “getting vocal” with their healthcare team about how they are feeling and doing on treatment to individualize their care. Visit ProjectIDesign.com where you can download a conversation checklist, medication tracker, and mobile and desktop apps. These tools help facilitate open and honest dialogue with your doctor, track your symptoms and remind you to take your medications on time.

About Merck
Today’s Merck is a global healthcare leader working to help the world be well. Merck is known as MSD outside the United States and Canada. Through our prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, and animal health products, we work with customers and operate in more than 140 countries to deliver innovative health solutions. We also demonstrate our commitment to increasing access to healthcare through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. For more information, visit www.merck.com and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

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Media Contact:
Kim Angelastro
Cohn & Wolfe
(212) 798-9740