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Editorial Infographic

Puberty and Beyond

Infographic featuring illustration of cartoon dog plush in blue overalls and pink super hero toy with long blue hair on wooden background next to paper

Project Type

Academic
MSC2023, MScBMC
University of Toronto

Supervisor

Dr. Jodie Jenkinson, PhD
MScBMC, University of Toronto

Duration

May 2020

Tools

Adobe Illustrator
Clip Studio Paint
Procreate

Introduction

Challenges in communication include not only teaching new concepts, but also changing pre-existing conceptions. Created as part of the MScBMC Information Visualization course, this piece aims to clear up the misconception of testosterone and estrogen as strictly "male" and "female" hormones.

Process

Concept

The first concept was fairly different from the final piece. Wanting the final piece to be eye catching with an editorial flair, yet still perceived as a "serious" piece of medical information, I initially turned to more a more realistic, classical aesthetic.

Sketches of elderly masculine and feminine figures in semi-realistic art style

Draft

Thumbnail and Draft

The classical approach was scrapped for a more modern, cuter design, with non-human characters with the aim of making the spread more welcoming. The editorial feeling was kept with this new aesthetic.

Two loose sketches of plush and superhero toys surrounded by paper notes on all sides

Character Design

In keeping with the theme of "effects across gender and time", no specific age or human body was portrayed.

To aid in instinctive reading based on societal associations, blue and pink were used across the piece and within the characters to depict the effects of testosterone and estrogen respectively. However, I flipped the usual gender-associated toys in their depictions, so as to convey the spectrum of genders affected by the hormones covered.

Sketches and flat-colored illustrations of plush dog in overalls and super hero toy with long hair

Final

Infographic featuring illustration of cartoon dog plush in blue overalls and pink super hero toy with long blue hair on wooden background next to paper

References

  1. Elagizi, A., Köhler, T. S., & Lavie, C. J. (2018). Testosterone and Cardiovascular Health. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 93(1), 83–100. doi: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2017.11.006
  2. Endocrine Society. (n.d.). Estrogen. Retrieved February 13, 2020, from https://www.hormone.org/your-health-and-hormones/glands-and-hormones-a-toz/hormones/estrogen
  3. Harvard Health Publishing. (n.d.). Testosterone - What It Does And Doesn't Do. Retrieved February 13, 2020, from https://www.health.harvard.edu/drugs-andmedications/testosterone--what-it-does-and-doesnt-do
  4. Khosla, S., Melton, L. J., & Riggs, B. L. (2011). The unitary model for estrogen deficiency and the pathogenesis of osteoporosis: Is a revision needed? Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 26(3), 441–451. doi: 10.1002/jbmr.262
  5. Miller, K. J., Conney, J. C., Rasgon, N. L., Fairbanks, L. A., & Small, G. W. (2002). Mood Symptoms and Cognitive Performance in Women Estrogen Users and Nonusers and Men. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 50(11), 1826–1830. doi: 10.1046/j.1532-5415.2002.50511.x
  6. Napoli, N., Faccio, R., Shrestha, V., Bucchieri, S., Rini, G. B., & Armamento-Villareal, R. (2007). Estrogen Metabolism Modulates Bone Density in Men. Calcified Tissue International, 80(4), 227–232. doi: 10.1007/s00223-007-9014-4