Know The Risks of Delta-8 THC

Designing the Delta-8 THC awareness post required a bold visual approach to compete in fast-paced social feeds. My objective was to disrupt scroll behavior by reframing something familiar—candy—as a potential risk. The focal point of the design is the high-resolution image of brightly colored gummies, intentionally chosen for its eye-catching appeal. I then contrasted this with a commanding purple banner and direct headline: “Know the risks of delta-8 THC.” This juxtaposition was critical in sparking curiosity and creating tension—turning what looks fun and harmless into something that deserves caution. My role involved both design and UX thinking: ensuring the hierarchy led from headline to image to resource link, and that the CDC brand mark and URL were highly visible as trust anchors. The design avoids overwhelming viewers with details; instead, it acts as a gateway asset, driving them toward CDC.gov for deeper learning. The outcome is a striking, shareable post that makes hidden risks visible, positions CDC as a voice of authority, and empowers audiences with awareness in a space often clouded by misinformation.

Client: CDC Communications
Role: Visual Design, Layout, Illustration, Typography
Tools: Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator
Deliverable: Web & Social Media graphic

This post targeted two high-priority audiences: young adults likely to experiment with emerging cannabis products, and parents concerned about THC-infused edibles being mistaken for candy. Social media feeds are saturated with eye-catching, colorful content, so the primary goal was to cut through the noise with a design that sparked curiosity while encouraging viewers to stop and reconsider what they were looking at. For CDC, the challenge was to position the message as both relatable and urgent without resorting to fear tactics. The design needed to balance cultural relevance with scientific credibility—educating audiences on the risks of Delta-8 THC while driving traffic to trusted resources at CDC.gov.

The visual strategy hinged on contrast through familiarity. The centerpiece is a high-resolution photo of gummy candies—bright, colorful, and appealing, mimicking a product often associated with positivity or fun. This was intentional: to draw the viewer in with something familiar and comforting, then create disruption through the addition of a stark, no-nonsense warning banner. The bold purple strip across the top served as both a visual stop sign and a campaign identity marker. The clean sans-serif typography was direct, avoiding jargon, and the message “Know the risks” was chosen for its simplicity and action-oriented tone. This pairing of approachable visuals with strong warnings created tension that made the design harder to scroll past.

The layout was built for hierarchical clarity and flow. At the top, the warning headline dominated in a strong purple bar, ensuring the message was the first element seen. The product photo occupied the central portion of the layout, ensuring instant recognition and emotional engagement—viewers saw something familiar before realizing its hidden risks. At the bottom, the bold CDC.gov button was designed as a prominent call-to-action, functioning as both a visual anchor and a next step for audiences seeking more information. Together, these three elements created a vertical scan pattern, guiding the eye from message to image to resource.

The outcome was a design that challenged assumptions and shifted perception. By reframing gummies—a symbol of childhood innocence and fun—into a source of potential harm, the post created a moment of disruption that demanded attention. The visual hierarchy ensured that audiences absorbed the warning first, processed the image second, and then engaged with the CDC.gov resource as a follow-up action. This design successfully positioned CDC as both authoritative and relatable, bridging the gap between scientific communication and cultural awareness. Its impact was not just in raising awareness of Delta-8 THC risks, but in creating a shareable, conversation-starting asset that helped CDC claim space in a crowded and often confusing digital landscape.