COVID Coach
I had the pleasure of teaming up with Vertical: a studio based in Berkeley, California to create a custom landscape illustration and a vast animal collection for COVID Coach: a project owned and developed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The app is designed to help you build resilience, manage stress, and increase your well-being during a global crisis. It’s free, secure, and helps connect you to important resources for coping and adapting during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It Was a Tough One…
Working on a project revolving around such a current and sensitive topic certainly wasn’t easy. There were two major obstacles that I had to overcome while working on the visual assets:
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Time
As the pandemic was peaking, VA wanted to release the app as soon as possible so that it would immediately start helping people. There was not much time for trial and error so I had to act swiftly.
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Audience
The app didn’t have a well-defined user: it’s for everyone. This fact made things difficult from a design standpoint since it’s challenging to create something that resonates with everybody’s preferences.
Sketching & Style Definition
The process began with brainstorming concepts for the app’s welcome screen consisting of four main segments. The initial idea of having separate illustrations for each button gradually developed into having one main illustration that would split into equal rectangles. They had to be able to work individually as well as a whole while also being a metaphor for the button’s main function.
Since the app was aimed at everybody, the style had to be neutral, yet have a presence, still. It had to elude positivity and tranquility, while not being too whimsical. The shapes had to be simple and the color scheme contrasting enough to separate the different objects well from one another.
Color Palette
Digital Design
Based on the final sketch approved by Vertical and VA, I created the digital image using Adobe Illustrator by continuously going back and forth to check its visibility and how it fits in the four main quadrants.
Animal Avatars
After quickly releasing COVID Coach for iOS and Android, Vertical and VA contacted me again with the idea to introduce a fresh update for the users of the app. A new animal would appear on the bench every time you would start a new session.
Gradually we created a collection of 41 animals, some as unique as a coelacanth wearing a monocle! 🧐
PS. I had to research what a coelacanth is.
Publicity
Ever since its release, COVID Coach has been downloaded and mentioned numerous times in various media outlets. Currently, you can use it in English or Spanish, in iOS or Android, and on your phone, tablet, laptop, or iPod. It has helped many people during the difficult times of the pandemic and has positively been one satisfying project to work on!
“Mila is a great illustrator and a fantastic professional. She’s been able to understand the client’s needs and always delivers beautiful, meaningful material. She’s responsive, on time, and collaborative. A great asset for my company.“
— Giovanni Moraja
CEO
Vertical