The Challenge
Approximately 300 million people worldwide are affected by asthma. Despite this prevalence, there are few educational tools which accurately depict the pathophysiology of asthma. The goal of this project was to develop a full-page editorial illustration to educate general audiences about the mechanisms and progression of asthma.
The Content
Asthma is a common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized reversible airflow obstruction and bronchospasm.Common symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.
The early phase of Asthma is characterized by bronchspasm and mucus secretion in minutes. Over time, chemotactic factors from mast cells recruit eosinophils, which result in inflammation.
The Outcome
The full-page illustration depicts both the anatomical and cellular levels of the pathology. The timeline, along with the other visual elements, allows viewers to compare healthy bronchioles with the early and late phases of asthma.Finally, in order to create a unique look, a traditional watercolor technique was combined with digital techniques.