Graphic Design major Mya Brown ’21 found inspiration for her capstone project from her brother’s fatal battle with Hydrocephalus, which is an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid within the cavities of the brain.

This spring, she worked with the Hydrocephalus Association (HA) to redevelop their website and marketing materials in order to bring awareness about the disease. Her capstone project was to create subway posters and infographics, and carry that rebrand over to a new website. She also incorporated the new design into promotional materials like t-shirts and pens.

“Numbers really hit home—1 in 1,000 infants—and people don’t even know about Hydrocephalus,” said Brown, referring to the subway posters. “I used to ride the subway to high school and read informational posters they had. It’s a perfect way to learn about this.”

She’s kept the same color scheme throughout the posters, infographics, and website to retain familiarity with the HA old designs.

HA estimates approximately 1 million people live with Hydrocephalus in the U.S., which typically impacts infants or older adults. Often older children and young adults suffer from Hydrocephalus due to hemorrhaging, meningitis, head injury, or brain tumors. Hydrocephalus is the most common reason for brain surgery in children.

Capstone is an opportunity for students to engage in an extended project that reflects their academic experiences. Projects combine their fields of study with personal interests. To see when projects will be presented in-person and virtual, go to Arcadia.edu.