Biomedical Visualizations

Educating lay audiences about complex biomedical topics using visual design

Education | Visual Design | Animation

Edwin Choi, 3D molecular animation, 2015

Role

I produced highly accurate, research driven biomedical visualizations for lay audiences using a wide variety of traditional and digital media, many of which are displayed in hospitals, research journals and institutions.

All examples below are solo driven projects where I executed on literature review, expert interviews, medical imaging review, dissections, illustrations, graphic design, 2D & 3D animation.

Time

7/2013 - ongoing

Client

Class projects | Biomedical researchers

Goal

Produce visualizations that communicate complex biomedical topics in an understandable and aesthetically engaging way.

The projects below are a collection of class projects and client work surrounding biomedical communication materials created using a mixture of media for a range of clients (Cell, The National Aquarium, Johns Hopkins Hospital, among others).

Anatomical sketches

I dissected and studied 2 human cadavers in order to produce the sketches below.

The brachial plexus and the medial view of the lower limb.

The larynx (voice box) and a coronal section of the heart.

The celiac trunk, posterior view of the hand, and the sternal area.

Scientific illustration

Carbon pencil illustration to explore rendering techniques for bone textures.

Edwin Choi, hip bone carbon pencil illustration, 2013

Defensive Mechanisms of the Lubber Grasshopper. A scientific illustration for a lay audience. A finalist for the 2015 National Science Foundation’s visualization challenge.

Edwin Choi, lubber grasshopper digital and pencil illustration, 2014

Pen and ink illustration

Pen and ink illustration of the brachial plexus, a major network of nerves that together innervate the upper limbs. To ensure content accuracy, I reviewed several anatomical textbooks, dissected and analyzed a human cadaver, and validated illustrations from a professor of anatomy.

Edwin Choi, brachial plexus ink illustration, 2014

Digital illustration

A mock cover for a scientific magazine for a lay audience. Models created in Cinema 4D and post processed in Photoshop.

Edwin Choi, digital journal illustration, 2014

Anatomical illustration

An illustration revealing the multiple layers of kidney anatomy. I ensured accuracy by using several anatomical textbooks. CT scans were also imported into OsiriX, a medical imaging program, in order to study real world examples of kidney vascular anatomy to ensure accuracy in arterial and venous structures.

Edwin Choi, digital kidney illustration, 2014

Journal covers

A scientific journal cover for the October 2016 issue of Cell. An illustration of a board game to represent the evolutionary battle between pathogen and host at the regional population level.

Edwin Choi, Cell cover, 2016

3D molecular animation

3D animation showing protein export through the nucleus. Protein models were created by importing molecular models from the Protein Data Bank, into Cinema 4D. Scales of molecules were validated using PyMOL. Animated using Cinema 4D and After Effects.

Edwin Choi, 3D molecular, 2015

Designed & coded © 2019 Edwin Choi