The Breast Cancer Awareness Month Illustration
Role: Illustrator
What: Created an original illustration addressing breast cancer awareness, combining emotional expression and advocacy in my distinctive style
Where: Personal Project (shared online, used for awareness campaigns and portfolio)
How: Developed an image of a breast shape with different female characters inside, using color and composition to highlight research, learning, and the complexity of emotions around breast cancer
Impact: Sparked dialogue about breast cancer research, raised awareness, and validated the full range of emotions women experience around the topic, drawing from personal connection to the cause.
Goals
The goal was to create an image that moved beyond traditional pink-ribbon motifs: something that embraced both the importance of scientific research and the very real, valid spectrum of feelings that women experience. I hoped my illustration would encourage viewers to talk openly, seek information, and care for themselves and each other.
My Role
I created and executed the artwork in my distinctive illustration style. I focused on symbolism, color, and storytelling to balance advocacy with empathy, inviting viewers to connect personally with the subject.
Design Concept
The composition centers around the shape of a breast, with a woman brightly illuminated as she looks into a microscope, symbolizing the pursuit of knowledge, research, and hope through vibrant, contrasting colors.
In the shadowed section of the illustration, I depicted fearful women in muted tones of the same color, representing the understandable anxiety and uncertainty surrounding breast cancer.
Within this darker area, I included small, menacing characters representing metastases, each holding guns pointed at the frightened women. These figures personify the threat of cancer spreading, capturing both the clinical and deeply personal fears associated with metastasis.
By balancing these visual narratives, I wanted to say that all emotions are valid, from panic and vulnerability to courage and curiosity. I also wanted to spotlight the importance of research, self-advocacy, and open dialogue in facing those fears.
Final Design
The finished piece is bold and unmistakably my own. It’s both gentle and striking.
The placement of light and shadow, along with compositional focus, reinforces the central message: our emotions about breast cancer are complex and valid, but we owe it to ourselves to keep learning, researching, and supporting one another.
Results
This illustration resonated deeply with my audience, opening up conversations about breast cancer within my community and online. It remains an important piece in my portfolio: a visual statement about awareness, empathy, and the importance of talking and learning about the things that matter most.