Health is a Human Right
Research & Relevance
Before any visuals took shape, this project began with research. Reading through the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was essential to understand not just the words, but the weight behind them. From this research, it was important to narrow down which article would make the most impact. Article 25 calls for access to healthcare, housing, and well-being as fundamental human rights, yet the global reality often falls far short. To design with purpose, it was crucial to define a clear target audience. Narrowing the focus allowed for a more intentional message—one that could resonate deeply and provoke action. The research helped bridge the gap between global policy and individual impact, grounding the design in empathy, urgency, and relevance. Every creative decision that followed was shaped by this foundation.
Ideation & Visual Exploration
With research as the foundation, the next step was to translate these complex human rights concepts into compelling visuals. This began with open-ended brainstorming- mapping out key themes from Article 25 like access to healthcare, clean water, shelter, and security. Using visual metaphors and action words such as "shrink," "invert," and "reverse" helped push ideas beyond the literal, opening space for symbolic and emotionally resonant imagery.
Thumbnail sketches played a critical role in this phase, allowing for rapid iteration and visual problem-solving. These small-scale explorations became a testing ground for composition, symbolism, and messaging. From medical caduceus forms to statistics woven into design, each concept was shaped to provoke thought and communicate urgency. Ideation wasn’t just about quantity—it was about refining toward impact, aligning visuals with the lived experiences of those affected by inequality and unmet needs.
Refinement & Concept Development
After generating a wide range of thumbnails, the strongest ideas were selected and developed into more refined, color concept drawings. This stage was about narrowing the focus and clarifying visual intent- sharpening the composition, enhancing symbolism, and experimenting with color to strengthen emotional tone and narrative clarity.
Color became a key tool for directing attention and amplifying urgency, especially in visualizing healthcare injustice, where bold reds and stark contrasts helped communicate the gravity of the issue. Moving from loose sketches to more polished concepts allowed for deeper reflection: How does this design communicate the core message of Article 25? Will it resonate with the intended audience? What emotional response might it provoke?
This phase was both iterative and intentional, bridging raw ideation with visual storytelling that demands to be seen and felt.
Final Design & Impact
The final design is the result of continuous refinement, critical feedback, and thoughtful iteration. Building on the concept of a medical caduceus entwined with a warning, “8 million deaths yearly from lack of adequate healthcare”, the visual speaks to the urgency and injustice at the heart of Article 25. Feedback during critique sessions helped sharpen both clarity and impact, guiding adjustments to color, scale, and typographic hierarchy to ensure the message hit hard and fast.
Every element is intentional: the coiled serpent becomes a symbol of both danger and denial, wrapping around a stark medical spike. The red draws the eye, while the spiral composition forces the viewer to follow the message downward, into the reality that too many face. Referencing the United Nations emblem in the background grounds the poster in the global conversation about human rights, reinforcing the idea that this is not just a statistic, but a violation of a fundamental promise.
Through design, the final piece aims not just to inform, but to confront, provoke, and advocate.
