Eisai | Made of More

For people living with a diagnosis, treatment, or the changes that often follow, head and neck cancer (HNC) can come with a variety of complications and adjustments that are unique to this group of cancers. Oftentimes, treatments and surgeries required to address HNC can leave individuals with physical deformities, make it difficult or even impossible to eat, and in some cases, require the re-learning of something as intrinsically human as the ability to speak. To say the least, those who stand and fight head and neck cancer can sometimes feel defined by the disease and its after-effects.

For Eisai, there is an important distinction to be made here: those with head and neck cancer cannot and should not be defined by this disease. They are Made of More. This campaign seeks to explore the stories of individuals affected by HNC, and the things they love that really define who they are. In a kind of triumphant statement, they express how they are human beings with interests and hobbies that make them fascinating individuals—far beyond just the disease that has greatly impacted their lives.

Their stories are ones of resilience and positivity. Inspiring narratives of the things we can and can’t control, and the ways in which our lives change when we are affected by a type of cancer that sometimes threatens to rob people of the things they loved.

Hoping to build a sense of belonging and community, this campaign seeks to disseminate the stories of these individuals, alongside a myriad of helpful tools and resources for people who may themselves be grappling with HNC.

I crafted the core stories of these individuals, which live on the site as a collection. I also worked tirelessly to create unique and helpful bespoke resources for patients, caregivers, and all those affected by this disease.

During the development of the site, we worked in lockstep with 3D animators to create the interactive Made of More logo, which contained aspects of each of the individual storytellers—The filmmaker, the traveler, the Tough Mudder participant, the puzzle-solver, and the writer. All together, this website is a testament to the power of storytelling, and the power of the stories themselves.

The campaign is now in its third year and continues to grow, with more exciting resources coming in 2025.