A Patient Educational Spread
Living with Tremors
Description
This patient education spread focuses on essential tremor, a condition I chose to visualize because it is something I live with myself. Having been diagnosed at a young age, I often wished for clear, accessible resources that explained what was happening in my body without being overwhelming or overly clinical. This project was created with that gap in mind. Written at a fifth-grade reading level, the spread aims to help patients and caregivers understand what tremors are, how essential tremor differs from Parkinson’s disease, and the most common treatment options available today. It also highlights emerging research that sheds light on potential causes of essential tremor, empowering readers with up-to-date information while reinforcing that they are not alone in navigating their diagnosis
Tools
Procreate, Illustrator
Type of Work
Coursework
Approach
Spread in a patient education booklet
Client
Shelly Wall (Prof. University of Toronto)
Year
2025
Audience
Lay Audience, Patient focused
Research and Ideation
The research and production of this piece involved an in-depth review of current literature on essential tremors, with particular attention to emerging findings that suggest Purkinje cell degeneration may play a central role in the development of these tremors. Visual references of Purkinje cells were studied to ensure their structure was represented accurately and clearly for a non-expert audience. Throughout the process, the layout was iterated multiple times, with content and visuals refined in tandem to improve clarity, flow, and readability. All design decisions were made in alignment with a cohort-selected style guide, allowing the spread to function as part of a cohesive, visually consistent booklet while maintaining a calm and approachable tone appropriate for patient education.
References
A Guide to Immunostaining the Cerebellum | Proteintech Group. (n.d.). Retrieved October 14, 2025, from https://www.ptglab.com/news/blog/a-guide-to-immunostaining-the-cerebellum/?srsltid=AfmBOopJIEKiPRZlUCiFPN95035ZI5oFOg96Pm5Bq86MfFBbfH0ioHG8
Deep Brain Stimulation | Johns Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). Retrieved September 19, 2025, from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/deep-brain-stimulation
ET Awareness - Essential Tremor. (n.d.). Retrieved September 19, 2025, from https://essentialtremor.org/what-we-do/et-awareness/
Fernandez, L., Major, B. P., Teo, W. P., Byrne, L. K., & Enticott, P. G. (2018). The Impact of Stimulation Intensity and Coil Type on Reliability and Tolerability of Cerebellar Brain Inhibition (CBI) via Dual-Coil TMS. Cerebellum, 17(5), 540–549. https://doi.org/10.1007/S12311-018-0942-5/FIGURES/6
Fujishima, K., Kawabata Galbraith, K., & Kengaku, M. (2018). Dendritic Self-Avoidance and Morphological Development of Cerebellar Purkinje Cells. Cerebellum, 17(6), 701–708. https://doi.org/10.1007/S12311-018-0984-8
Louis, E. D. (2015). Essential Tremor: A Common Disorder of Purkinje Neurons? The Neuroscientist : A Review Journal Bringing Neurobiology, Neurology and Psychiatry, 22(2), 108. https://doi.org/10.1177/1073858415590351
Lyons, K. E., & Pahwa, R. (2008). Deep brain stimulation and tremor. Neurotherapeutics, 5(2), 331. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.NURT.2008.01.004
Martini, F. H., Timmons, M. J., & Tallitsch, R. B. (2007). Human Anatomy (6th Edition) (Sixth). Pearson.
Midsagittal section of the brain: anatomy | Kenhub. (n.d.). Retrieved October 14, 2025, from https://www.kenhub.com/en/library/anatomy/midsagittal-section-of-the-brain
Paul, M. S., & Limaiem, F. (2022). Histology, Purkinje Cells. StatPearls. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK545154/
Voelker, R. (2025). What Is Essential Tremor? JAMA, 333(2), 181–181. https://doi.org/10.1001/JAMA.2024.19714