Allergenius Campaign

UALIRL

May 1

Allergenius was an allergy awareness campaign made up of two parts: a concept app to help those with mild to severe allergies navigate the unknown with life-saving information, and a poster series designed to spark public conversation and reduce the stigma around allergies.

The idea came directly from my own experience living with an anaphylactic allergy. Every day I discover new risks from questionable sources—pink peppercorns can kill me? The rise of almond milk means I can’t go to Starbucks anymore? Unfortunately, because food allergies are so human-specific, there’s been limited research, and misinformation spreads like, well, hives.

While in university, I tried to sign up for Hello Fresh. They had plenty of options for voluntary dietary restrictions, but when I asked about allergens, they said they couldn’t guarantee the absence of cross-contamination. Experiences like these have made me deeply passionate about this issue—most brands and restaurants would rather play it safe legally than ensure the safety of those with major allergies.

I have, however, had great experiences with the few brands and restaurants that truly care. That inspired me to imagine an app where I could input my allergies and their severity, then see up-to-date ingredients, reviews, and safety ratings for products and restaurants near me. The initial app design was intentionally simple—just enough to communicate the concept.

To support it, I designed a poster series for high-traffic areas like the London Underground, highlighting eight of the fourteen major allergens, and small business cards allergists could hand to patients. (This was before QR codes were a go-to marketing tool—today I’d feature one front and center.) I shot all of the photography myself in-studio, which made shooting tree nuts and shellfish without being able to physically handle them a logistical challenge.

Since 2018, similar apps have been developed by others—which I’m genuinely glad to see—but the core idea remains something I’m just as passionate about today.

How I’d refine this today: I’d completely rework the visual identity (fonts, colors, and overall design), reshoot the photography, expand the app’s functionality, and collaborate with a copywriter for sharper, more impactful messaging.

App