On the Upside, 2021
OCAD U Illustration Thesis
“On the Upside” synthesizes children’s games and activities with mental disorders to parallel the resilience of kids with the coping abilities of young adults.
“Playing with Fire” compares the nervousness associated with General Anxiety Disorder to the fictional danger one is in during a game of ‘the floor is lava.’
"Race Car Brain" synthesizes bipolar disorder with custom race car tracks to compare the ups and downs of manic/depressive episodes with driving a high-performance car.
“Tied up” synthesizes Depression with 'cat's cradle' to demonstrate how the road to recovery is a step-by-step process that is complicated, yet rewarding.
“Dare for Dessert” pairs the pressure of eating in social situations to a game of ‘truth or dare’ to exemplify how Eating Disorders may force one to eat or explain why they are not.
“Windswept Mind” compares Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder with flying kites to illustrate the struggle of focusing on one task while simultaneously juggling other thoughts and ideas.
“Check on your mate” compares a game of chess to Addiction recovery through visual metaphor; pawns can make it to the end and be promoted to a stronger piece.
“All-consuming” compares Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder to Chinese finger traps, exhibiting how compulsions and obsessions can be tricky to break free from.
“Flashback” synthesizes jump scares from a game of ‘peek-a-boo’ with triggering flashbacks that are experienced by those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
“Duck or Goose” compares delusions and hallucinations experienced by those with Paranoid Schizophrenia, to the unsettling feeling of being chosen & chased during a game of ‘duck-duck-goose’.