Self portrait

Application for Sophia children hospital
Rotterdam, Netherlands

Created with MCW, Self-Portrait is an illustrated patient-engagement tool designed to make hospital visits less intimidating and encourage children with serious medical conditions to take a more active role in their treatment. I was responsible for the visual execution, from developing the overall art style and character design to creating the final digital illustrations.

The idea behind the project really resonated with me. Medical tests can be scary and unfamiliar, especially for children, so we wanted to create something that would make these experiences feel more understandable and approachable. I used warm, playful guide characters to introduce children to procedures such as mobility checks, grip-strength tests, and routine measurements. Combined with customisable environments, mood trackers, and milestone logs, the app turns something potentially stressful into an experience that feels supportive and empowering.

The most rewarding part came during user testing. The children were genuinely excited to explore the app and became immersed in the visual storytelling. Hearing that some of the young patients actually giggled when they saw the chubby, rounded guide character was incredibly meaningful to me. It was a small reaction, but it showed that the visual language was doing exactly what I hoped: creating a moment of joy and helping children feel a little more comfortable during an otherwise difficult experience.