Medical Design to Tickle the Funny Bone

Each year, a jury of "365: AIGA Annual Design Competitions" selects a group of examples of outstanding design produced over the previous year to be mounted as a public exhibition at the AIGA National Design Center in NYC (the exhibition opened December 10). Some selections also become part of the AIGA Design Archives, an online visual database of inspirational designs on AIGA's website. Here are some of my favorites from this year's selections that incorporate medical themes into the designs.

Howard Hughes Medical Institute May 2007 Bulletin (selected illustrations)
Editorial Design Category
Designed by VSA Partners, Inc.
Description: Our aim is to engage the reader’s interest through a fun and intriguing opening spread.
Juror Notes: For this type of magazine, the design is surprising – play between illustration ad opener type beautiful – playful.

Sparklehorse Poster
Promotional Design and Advertising Category
Designed by Planet Propaganda (Madison, WI)
Description: Gig poster for live-music venue

Rant
Book Design Category
Designed by Rodrigo Corral Design (NY, NY)
Juror Notes: Fetishistic fiction design perfectly considered—gruesome and jewel­like at the same time