CPR Poster ⛑️
CHALLENGE
Design a CPR poster that is modern, easy to understand, and has a clear hierarchy of information. Use the medical material from medlineplus.gov as your resource. The completed poster should also be able to function as a webpage.
SKILLS
Information Architecture, Prototyping, Graphic Design, Figma
Inspiration ✨
I began by categorizing all of the information from medlineplus.gov from most to least important. Next, I searched for design inspiration on the web.
I ended up gravitating towards posters with clearly labeled steps and visual aids such as illustrations and iconography.
The designs that strayed away from using the color red stood out to me. Although red is associated with emergency, I felt that it might heighten anxiety during a stressful, life-threatening situation.
First Draft 🪨
Once I had looked through and analyzed several different CPR and First Aid posters, I decided to go with a flexible grid design. I felt the clearly labeled step tiles would be easy to scan. I also liked how each tile could vary in size to fit more or less information.
I also decided to utilize illustrations by Cindy Chung for Verywell Health. I liked how clear the illustrations were without being too sterile or impersonal.
I made sure that the poster was easily scannable, and had a clear hierarchy of information based on font size, weight, and contrast. I wanted to ensure that all the copy was concise, unambiguous, and succint.
Final Design 💎
After receiving feedback from my peers, I decided to add a gradient in the background to make the CPR step tiles pop out. Having the color change from the top to the bottom of the poster also added a sense of progression and dimension that the original design had been lacking.
I also changed all of the black elements to a dark plum color except for the informative text. This way, all of the most important information had the most contrast from the beige background and everything else (step labels, illustrations, icons, and tile outlines) felt more cohesive with the lavender gradient.
Reflection 🪞
I found this project to be a great reminder of how practicality and aesthetics intersect. Every decision I made throughout the design process ended up serving both a visual and pragmatic purpose.
The design of CPR and First Aid posters is often under-valued and overlooked. Completing this project gave me a deeper appreciation for the importance of information design, especially during times of emergency.
