Ultray's mission is to educate young people on Melanoma by teaching them how to perform self-examinations, warning signs to look for, and how to reduce their risk of developing skin cancer in their lifetime through a zine, sun sensitive apparel and posters.
Melanoma is the most common form of skin cancer affecting young adults between the ages of 25 and 29. The first sign of Melanoma is often a new mole or the change in appearance of an existing mole. This cancer is notorious for its potential to spread rapidly to other parts of the body if not detected and treated early. Early detection is critical in combating Melanoma effectively, however the majority of young people are unaware of what the warning signs are.
One of the highest risk factors contributing to the development of Melanoma include overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation which can be through un-protected skin against sunlight, use of tanning beds, experiencing severe sun burns, possessing numerous/ atypical moles, or having a family history of Melanoma. To visually represent the hidden damage that UV exposure can do to your skin, I produced a series of UV reactions t-shirts with the design only appearing when exposed to sun light. Using the screen printing process, this line of informative t-shirts include a printed design on the front, and a hidden design on the back which will appear when worn outside regardless of the weather to combat the idea that sun protection is not needed if the sun isn't clearly out.
UV Reactive T-Shirt when exposed to sunlight
Early detection is critical in combating Melanoma effectively with regular self examinations of the skin and annual visits to a dermatologist aiding in identifying suspicious moles of skin changes. The Ultray informative zine aims to educate young people on how to perform a self examination at home, the ABCDE rule, how to reduce their risk and next steps that they could take if they find something suspicious.
A selection of pages included within the Ultray Zine
