What does it mean to be alone? Isolation for older adults can be deceiving. Despite being surrounded by people, it’s easy to live incredibly isolated.

This report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine examines how social isolation and loneliness impact health outcomes in older adults aged 50 and older, particularly among low income, underserved, and vulnerable populations. Released just a month before COVID-19 hit the United States, the cover design brings home the isolation many of us felt during 2020, but a reality that can be ongoing for older adults. We explored the viewpoints of the person who is socially isolated and themes of social connectivity. Final deliverables for this project included the cover of the report, and a simple social media gif bringing slight animation to help gain attention in feed scrolling. Deceivingly simple design to a complex situation.