Art Directing @ VeryWell Health

Project Overview

I partnered with the Visual Editor at Verywell Health to help develop and standardize a brand illustration guideline. The goal was to balance authority and warmth in health-related visuals—establishing a system that builds trust while allowing illustrators to conceptually explore complex medical topics.

Working closely with brand leads Sahara Borja and Amelia Manley, we focused on aging up the aesthetic, ensuring that illustrations felt naturalistic, inclusive, and emotionally grounded.

Before

• Problem: Previous illustrations skewed too young or overly abstract, which limited relatability

• Need: Clear direction for depicting people, faces, and health scenarios in ways that reflect real-life diversity, age, and emotion—while remaining medically accurate

• Collaboration: Worked across design, editorial, and brand to align visual tone with the core mission of accessible, evidence-based health guidance

After

Established a cohesive visual system for depicting people and health scenarios

1. Created a clear guideline for realistic skin tones, ensuring inclusive and accurate representation

2. Focused on naturalistic facial features and body types to reflect real-world diversity

3. Shifted to a more mature aesthetic—avoiding infantilized or overly simplified styles

4. Balanced simplification with detail to maintain clarity while preserving warmth and relatability

5. Unified color palette, linework, and composition to strengthen overall brand consistency

These illustrations are now part of a standardized system that supports Verywell Health’s identity as a reliable, reader-first brand in the medical space.