Description
This patient education spread focuses on essential tremor, a condition I chose to visualize because I live with it myself. After being diagnosed at a young age, I often wished for clear, accessible resources that explained what was happening in my body without feeling overwhelming or overly clinical. This project was created with that in mind. Written at a fifth-grade reading level, it explains what tremors are, how essential tremor differs from Parkinson’s disease, and the most common treatment options. It also touches on emerging research into possible causes, giving readers up-to-date information while reinforcing that they’re 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
This piece involved an in-depth review of current research on essential tremors, with a focus on emerging evidence that Purkinje cell degeneration may play a key role. Visual references were used to make sure these cells were represented accurately and in a way that’s easy to understand for a general audience. The layout went through several iterations, with content and visuals refined together to improve clarity and flow. Design choices followed a cohort style guide, so the spread fits within a cohesive booklet while maintaining a calm, approachable tone 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