I design public health communications that connect evidence with empathy. Working alongside communities—not just for them—I create culturally responsive campaigns that advance equity, improve access, and inspire participation.

My experience bridges design strategy, health literacy, and behavior change communication—turning insights into visuals that make action easier. Selected projects highlight how I’ve co-created solutions that meet people where they are and help organizations deliver lasting impact.

This approach comes from a winding path through community health, interpretation, and international development—long before I called myself a designer.

About Mariel

I’m a Venezuelan-American designer and former community health professional who found my creative purpose in bridging cultures through design. Before moving into visual communications, I worked on the front lines of health equity—from HIV prevention campaigns in Nicaragua to advocacy programs for survivors of sexual assault in the U.S. Those experiences continue to shape how I design: with empathy, cultural fluency, and a focus on systems that help people thrive.

Today, I bring that same mindset to every partnership—helping mission-driven organizations tell stories that honor lived experience, build trust, and spark change.

Why Hire Me

I bring a rare blend of design skill and real-world experience in public health and community engagement. My approach is rooted in:

• Health Literacy: I translate complex ideas into clear, human-centered visuals that inform and inspire action.

• Cross-Cultural Fluency: As a bilingual, bicultural Venezuelan-American, I design with cultural context and global perspective.

• Systems Thinking: I build creative systems—templates, workflows, and design frameworks—that make communication more efficient and equitable across teams.

Design Practice

I design with people and communities, not just for them—creating visual systems and experiences that build inclusion, access, and belonging.

My work connects design, public health, and storytelling to help organizations communicate with purpose and empathy.

Core Services

Publication Design
Reports, toolkits, briefs, and magazines that make complex ideas clear, visual, and human.
→ Editorial layout, multilingual editions, accessibility, and pre-press production.

Digital & Social Media Design
Campaign graphics, infographics, presentation decks, and web/social assets that bring stories to life.
→ Deep experience designing within established brands and building adaptable templates for team use.

Creative Systems & Brand Stewardship
Visual guidelines, asset libraries, and workflows that help teams communicate efficiently and consistently.
→ Centered on collaboration, scalability, and empowering non-designers to create confidently.

Approach

• Collaborative & Co-creative: Building with communities, amplifying diverse voices, and shaping stories together.

• Culturally Fluent: Drawing from my Venezuelan-American background to design with empathy, context, and care.

• Equity-Driven: Committed to accessible, inclusive design that reflects the people it serves.

• Purpose-Led: Using design as a tool for health, connection, and collective well-being.

Interviews

Meet Mariel Alvarado of CommunicArte | Buzz Magazine

Mariel Alvarado’s Lessons on Design and Social Justice | .ME Domain

Mariel Alvarado — Justice and Graphic Design Converge | .ME Domain

Graphic Design awards