Know Stroke Campaign
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Shifting the conversation on stroke awareness.
Stroke is a leading cause of death in the United States. This medical emergency is on the rise among young adults, yet 30% of adults younger than 45 don’t know the most common symptoms. We needed to sound the alarm and translate the science of stroke in a way that would capture the attention of a broader audience.
Stroke is often only considered in the moment.
When its mentioned, its often paired with other health initiatives, diluting the message and impact. We saw an opportunity to broaden the lens and talk about the full picture of stroke. From the many ways we can reduce our risk to diagnosis to the road to recovery.
It’s not that people don’t know about stroke. They just don’t know enough.
Knowledge in action.
Our approach reimagined the Know Stroke campaign as the standalone resource for stroke information. What began as a campaign became a full brand—one that is approachable, trustworthy, informed, and dynamic. Extensive research guided this effort to ensure the brand would work for our overlapping audiences of researchers, providers, and patients.
Creating the conversation.
We developed everything from the initial website plan, including customer experience (CX) and user experience (UX), to the final design, development, and implementation. Our illustrated mark both disrupts the narrative and captures the physical symptoms of the condition. We brought FAST—the all-encompassing acronym for stroke diagnosis—to brilliant new life. Through color, illustration, and custom messaging for every audience, we inspired action and cracked doors to vital conversations.
Results.
Know Stroke was launched through a series of media tours during National Stroke Awareness Month in May 2024. Within the first 90 days of the website’s launch, the site received nearly 52,000 users and more than 88,000 views. But most importantly, it disrupted outdated opinions about stroke with a much–needed dose of inspiration and education.
FULL PROJECT CREDITS
Client: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
President - Strategic Creative & Communications: Eduardo Sarmiento
Chielf Creative Officer: Russell Hayer
Group Creative Director: Allison Hummel
Associate Creative Director: Bianca Paulk
Senior Art Director: Melissa Pierce
Art Director: Andrea Olivera
Senior Software Engineer: Mike Haefeli
Account Executives: Fernanda Tilkian, Ashley Sever
INFO
Created in 2024 with Fors Marsh
PROJECT ROLE
Art Direction, Design, Branding, Illustration