Visual Communication - Bachelor
New Blooms is a child-focused dental education brand designed to make first dental visits positive and engaging. Through storytelling, friendly mascots, and playful visuals, it transforms oral care into a joyful, approachable experience—helping children grow confident, lifelong habits and empowering parents with clear, accessible guidance for healthy smiles.
Oral health in early childhood plays a critical role in both immediate well-being and long-term development. Despite this, early childhood caries (ECC) remains the most common chronic disease amongst children in Australia, with severe forms (S-ECC) affecting up to 17% of 2-3-year-olds.
New Blooms is a child-centred dental education campaign designed to ease anxiety surrounding early dental visits and promote positive oral health habits from a young age. Targeted at children aged 3–6 and their caregivers, the campaign transforms dental care into an imaginative story world called The Smile Garden, where teeth are “flowers” that need daily care to grow strong and healthy. The project aims to bridge the gap between home and clinic education by using visual storytelling, playful design, and tangible engagement materials to build confidence and understanding of oral hygiene practices.
Each New Bloom’s Scene within the Smile Garden has been created in Blender, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Illustrator, aiming to develop an educational visual journey that reframes dental hygiene as curious, celebratory rituals.
Cultivating Lifelong Smiles Through Storytelling and Design
The Smile Garden is the heart of the New Blooms world — a bright, nurturing landscape where healthy habits grow. Here, mascots Farmer Bloom and Sonny the Bee care for a smiling tooth, symbolising how love, guidance, and daily care help children’s smiles flourish. The scene introduces the brand’s friendly, nature-inspired narrative designed to make oral care feel safe and joyful.
This poster visualises the importance of brushing as gardening — where “plaque weeds” represent sticky buildup on teeth. Children are encouraged to “pull out the weeds” with their toothbrushes, helping them see cleaning as an empowering and fun part of caring for their own Smile Garden.
In this scene, Sonny the Bee takes the lead, showing children how to chase away the “Sugar Bugs” that hide after eating sweets. The bright, dynamic illustration turns flossing and rinsing into a playful adventure, reinforcing positive associations with daily dental routines.
The Sunshine Check Station represents regular dental visits — where a warm light and careful tending can reveal hidden Sugar Bugs or plaque weeds. Farmer Bloom gently guides children through this step, helping them understand that dentists are friendly helpers who keep their Smile Garden healthy and bright.
My name is Ella Keowski, and I’m a fourth-year student at QUT, studying a dual degree in Marketing and Visual Communication. My passion for communicating health information to underserved groups began with my grandfather, whose experience with glaucoma inspired me to explore how design can bridge gaps in understanding, empathy, and accessibility within healthcare communication.