Maggie Stephenson Editorial & Advertising Illustrator

ABOUT

I was commissioned by Medicinal Media, a nonprofit dedicated to making evidence-based mental health resources accessible to young people and their families, to create a hero illustration and two supporting editorial illustrations for a feature exploring mistakes and resilience.

The article explores mistakes as an essential part of developing self-awareness and building emotional resilience. My role was to translate these psychological concepts into a series of engaging visual metaphors that would resonate with a younger audience.

I developed illustrations centered on curiosity and forward movement. The hero illustration introduces the feature through symbols of learning and discovery, while the supporting spot illustrations reinforce key themes throughout the article. A compass blooming into flowers represents finding direction through experience, while stepping stones surrounded by new growth symbolize the journey of learning and personal development.

Using a limited colour palette and soft textures, I created illustrations that feel optimistic and inviting while supporting the key text.

The illustrations were published as the lead artwork and supporting elements for the feature, creating a cohesive flow throughout the article. It was a pleasure to contribute to Medicinal Media’s mission of making science-backed mental health education engaging and empowering for young people and their families.

Credits: AD Rob VanAlkemade & Jessi Cape

Who liked - Medicinal Media: Messing Up is Part of Growing Up (Editorial)

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