The cover story for UCSF Magazine’s summer 2024 issue dives into the distressed teenage brain and how neuroscience research and new treatment approaches can help stem the tide of teen depression. Our design team partnered with the design studio Pentagram Austin to create a wraparound cover going inside the tumultuous landscape of the adolescent brain. Illustrator Tim McDonagh brought the concept to life with cascading images and symbols flowing out of a teenager’s head, representing contemporary issues that are on teens' minds, including social media, schoolwork, drugs and cigarettes, the pandemic, and global warming. Illustrations of these looming, negative thoughts are sprinkled with signs of hope—flowers, greenery, and butterflies—to convey that maybe we can one day slow or even reverse the steep decline in mental health among adolescents with early intervention and cognitive behavioral treatments.
From the Judges
The illustration is bold and beautifully done. The creative concept and appealing colors add to its charm, making it an engaging cover that stands out.
