Medical Records

Concept, creative writing, illustration

This graphic novel was created in a cooperative effort to deliver a story that emphasises the importance of retirement homes in the late stages of life for many of us. Set in a rural town in New England in the 1990s, it follows the last months in the life of patient Mr. Zachary Griffith, detailing the events in medical records of three different nurses. Much like real-life reports, they are presented in reversed chronological order, building up a tale of suspense and melancholy.

While the writings heavily focus on the eponymous hero, both visual elements as well as different writing styles and moods hint at the nurses’ lives and their relations. This was implemented in the conceptual stages of development, making use of clear colour schemes, which are later found in numerous illustrations or other graphic elements.

By far the largest part of all visual elements were created by the illustrator, while the logo and several icons were designed by the author. The logo features a lavender blossom, a recurring theme inside the story, and tries resembling traditional nursing home designs. Additional simple icons include the medication administered to Mr. Griffith as well as a collection of chocolates advertised within the book, both of which contain strong references to the nurses.

The layout was created alongside the first stages of writing and was again inspired by actual medical documents. Clearly outlined boxes immediately put the main part of each entry into focus and a lot of additional contents either enable to share additional details or provide space for the high density of illustrations.

The work was created over the course of half a year and eventually self-published.