NO EXCUSES, GET TESTED.
photography, graphic art development, ad design
BACKGROUND
No Excuses, Get Tested. is a campaign I was commissioned to develop for In Our Own Voices (“IOOV”), a New York-based LGBTQ+ organization dedicated to serving communities of color.
Decades after the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the legacy of medical neglect and social stigma continues to create barriers to healthcare. This campaign seeks to dismantle that stigma, specifically among BIPOC men, by transforming sexual health from a subject of fear into an act of empowerment.
Through authentic representation and a direct call to action, the project highlights IOOV’s commitment to providing free HIV, STD, and STI testing in their community, proving that when care is accessible, there are no excuses.
WORKFLOW
I collaborated closely with a creative director who shaped the campaign's vision — a bold, graffiti-inspired aesthetic that would feel authentic to our target audience. My role was to execute that vision through photography and design.
The process began with a photoshoot featuring black & latino who reflected our target demographic. I directed the models through a series of playful, physical poses to capture a sense of joy, closeness, and pride rather than the clinical or fear-based tone often associated with sexual health messaging.
From there, I moved into design. I hand-built the graffiti-style title lettering and the surrounding tags, drips, and street-art motifs (words like "Respect," "Empowered," "Take Control," and "End the Stigma") to visually reinforce the campaign's core message while grounding it in the culture and aesthetic of the communities it was meant to reach. Every background element was designed to feel spray-painted and spontaneous, layering hand-drawn typography with texture and color to ground the campaign in street-art culture.
RESULTS
The final ads were displayed on billboards, bus shelters, public transit, and posters throughout New York's Capital Region.
The campaign helped the organization extend its reach across the region, reinforcing free testing as accessible, destigmatized, and within reach for the communities who need it most.
