Visualizing Care

When the City of San Francisco approached me about their employee mental health benefits program, they faced a common challenge: they offered comprehensive services, but many employees weren't aware of or accessing them. Information was scattered across multiple platforms, creating unnecessary barriers for those who needed support most.

Journey map digitally illustrated by Alece Birnbach

Working closely with their wellness team, we developed an intuitive visual solution: a garden journey map. This metaphor resonated because gardens naturally convey growth, healing, and ongoing care – perfect for representing mental health resources. Different garden elements represented various services, and most importantly, how to access appropriate support.

After interviewing stakeholders and mapping existing services, I developed the visual concept through several collaborative iterations. We tested the design with diverse employee groups to ensure it was both comprehensive and approachable for everyone.

By creating an emotional connection while providing clear guidance, the journey map makes mental health support more approachable for city employees.

Is your organization struggling to communicate complex information or services to your team or customers? A custom journey map might be your solution.

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