Guidebook Design for the University of Chicago

Organization

University of Chicago

Industry

Healthcare, Education, Publishing

Services

Guidebook Design, Layout Design

Challenge

The University of Chicago sought to create an educational book series to support patients and their families navigating Celiac Disease. Patients diagnosed with this condition often experience significant overwhelm due to the complex medical and lifestyle adjustments required. While physical symptoms often receive attention, emotional and social aspects—such as coping with bullying, managing daily preparedness, and maintaining relationships—also play a critical role. The key challenge was creating engaging materials tailored to diverse age groups, ensuring each guidebook provided relevant medical information without overwhelming readers.

Approach

Whitney designed a comprehensive series of guidebooks to address the unique needs of patients across various age groups:

• Children (ages 8-12): Utilized brighter colors, friendly caricatures, and approachable content to make learning engaging.

• Teens and Young Adults: Employed a relatable visual style and addressed social scenarios.

• Adults: Adopted a sophisticated design using an educational style that clearly presents detailed medical information without overwhelming readers.

Each book maintained cohesive branding, yet adapted its visual style, language complexity, and content density to meet the developmental and emotional needs of its respective age group. Whitney handled all aspects of design, including content layout, artwork, and cover-to-cover presentation, carefully balancing text with visual elements.

Result

The completed guidebooks are actively distributed by the University of Chicago to patients and their families, effectively addressing both medical and emotional aspects of living with Celiac Disease. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the clarity, accessibility, and emotional sensitivity of the materials. The University continues to expand distribution and utilize these resources as a cornerstone of patient education.

To protect the intellectual property of these unique educational tools, internal graphics and layouts have been carefully managed to prevent unauthorized use.