The Importance of Being Inclusive

July 17, 2023

I recently had the opportunity to create illustrations for the Canadian Red Cross, a project that reinforced just how important representation is in medical visuals. The goal was to depict various skin conditions—poison ivy, frostbite, and second-degree burns—across different shades of brown skin. All illustrations were created in full color, emphasizing accuracy while ensuring the images felt authentic and inclusive.

One of my favorite parts of this project was working on a sketch of a full-term brown baby. I love seeing the process behind an illustration—the preliminary sketches, the decisions about form and proportion, the way ideas evolve before final color is applied. Sketches give a window into the artist’s thinking, and I enjoy sharing that with viewers who might not normally see the “behind the scenes” of medical illustration.

Over time, I’ve become more intentional about including people of color in my own portfolio. It’s a gradual evolution—learning from each project, reflecting on representation, and striving to do better. Every illustration is an opportunity to create visuals that are more inclusive and more representative of the diversity of real patients.

Projects like this are a great reminder that inclusivity matters in every aspect of our work. Accurate, thoughtful representation not only reflects the diversity of real patients but also helps healthcare providers recognize and treat conditions more effectively, no matter the patient’s skin tone.