CREATIVE COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM MANAGER MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER, HOUSTON TX
I have designed for a variety of industries, including publishing, education, health insurance, health care, technology and government. Brand and strategy campaigns that promote innovation, caring and wellness fuel my creativity and passion for design. I thrive as an in-house creative. Currently, I am a program manager in the Creative Communications department at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, where I lead two talented, award-winning designers. Creative Communications provides graphic design, branding, medical illustration, animation, photography and user experience design support for our institution. All of MD Anderson’s 26,000+ employees are dedicated to our mission of eliminating cancer.
MD Anderson is one of the world’s most respected centers devoted exclusively to cancer patient care, research, education and prevention. The main campus is located in Houston’s Texas Medical Center, but additional locations provide cancer care throughout the Greater Houston Area, and we collaborate across the U.S. and around the world to advance our mission. U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Hospitals” survey has ranked MD Anderson the nation’s top hospital for cancer care for the past decade, and the institution has been named one of the top two hospitals for cancer care every year since the survey began in 1990.
TELL US HOW AND WHY YOU BECAME INVOLVED IN SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE COMMUNICATIONS, ANY THOUGHTS ON WHY DESIGN CAN BE AN ESPECIALLY EFFECTIVE TOOL?
I became involved in socially responsible communications while working my way through college. I had some imaging skills that helped me acquire an entry-level position in the photography department of a national newspaper. I grew my skill set and designed feature pages about philanthropy and its impact on the community. Often, bad news makes the headlines, but I was designing full pages about great things happening in our community. I was hooked.
Later, I realized why I became involved in socially responsible communications. During my orientation at MD Anderson, I had a revelation that someday cancer could be eliminated. Every cell in my body indicated to me that this was possible. I realized any goal can be achieved when people work together. I feel like each project I design represents one step toward reaching the goal of eliminating cancer.
I think what makes design such an effective tool is that it can be used to help more people understand complicated ideas or information more deeply, which results in more people being equipped to visualize solutions. More people making more steps more quickly adds up to giant leaps.
GIVEN THE CONFLUENCE OF EVENTS AND CHALLENGES OUR SOCIETY NOW FACES, DOES THIS MOMENT PRESENT ANY SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES, URGENCIES, OBSTACLES TO DESIGNING FOR GOOD?
Never before have we been able share unique perspectives and multiple ideas with such ease and speed. Although the ocean of misinformation is a large hurdle for us to overcome, now is a time for innovation and finding solutions.
To me, designing for good is about improving the quality and volume of accurate and credible information available to everyone, so that better health decisions can be made. The world urgently needs more responsible content creators who uplift and support wellness.
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