My poster represents seeing the unseen thoughts that patients experience when attending a radiology setting. Radiographers and sonographers understand the feelings that patients may be experiencing and can comfort and reassure them during these difficult times. 

Most patients who come through the hospital will have some sort of imaging and our role is to guide them through the unknown and to ensure they have a positive experience in our care.

The idea for my poster came from a conversation with colleagues about how patients could gain insight into the different types of imaging that radiographers perform. As QR codes are used frequently now, I used ones linked to scans and X-rays in addition to my illustrations of characters to create an interactive poster. 

I wanted it to appeal to all ages, with the characters doing everyday things that people could relate to. As this year’s theme is ‘Seeing the Unseen’, anyone can scan the QR codes to see the imaging corresponding to body parts of the characters, which radiographers carry out daily. 

With this, I wanted to show that radiographers provide imaging with a variety of modalities to look within the body to see the unseen.

This was the first time I decided to participate in the World Radiography Day poster competition because this year’s subject motivated me a lot as it was focused on our raw material, ‘the X-rays’, which, by being invisible, give us access to the interior of the human body.

In this poster, I wanted to highlight the dental area and pay tribute to all dental radiographers who work in a field that is not mentioned as often as the others, but has equal importance to any other field in the health service.

My poster visually represents the vital role radiographers play in revealing what is invisible to the naked eye. The image depicts a radiographer holding a microscope-like eyepiece tube connected to an MRI machine, symbolising the link between human observation and advanced technology. 

This concept lies at the core of radiography, where we use imaging techniques to visualise structures within the body that would otherwise remain hidden. It ties in perfectly with this year’s theme, as it highlights the essential work radiographers do in transforming invisible data into clear, actionable information for diagnosis and treatment. 

By focusing on ‘Seeing the Unseen’, the poster celebrates the critical insights we provide in healthcare, bridging the gap between what’s hidden and what needs to be understood.

My first thought when I heard of this year's theme, ‘Seeing the Unseen’, was its connotations of invisible, hidden or easily overlooked. My interpretation was in a metaphorical sense that radiography as a profession is unclear and misunderstood, subtle or unnoticed by others, as opposed to a more common profession such as nursing. 

As a radiographer, when I state my profession, it’s commonly met with: ‘Oh, what’s that?’ or ‘I’ve never heard of that!’ I believe radiography is at the forefront of healthcare; we provide vital imaging, which clinicians will use with patient presentation to diagnose. We are a fundamental part of the puzzle in the jigsaw that is healthcare. 

The colours used in my poster reminded me of a prism, ultraviolet and futurism. The woman looking through the binoculars demonstrates the varied modalities and specialism in radiology and the massive umbrella that is radiology, which gives each area its flowers and recognition. 

I felt the slogan ‘The eyes of healthcare’ fit perfectly because whether it be CT, ultrasound or X-ray, imaging enables you to get that diagnosis. The noun ‘eyes’ symbolises a critical part of the five senses. The eyes are the primary organ for sight and have the symbolic and cultural significance of being ‘windows to the soul’. 

So, ‘The eyes of healthcare’ was a fun play on those interpretations because, with imaging, we can see the ‘inside’ of patients, the building blocks – eg, bones, muscles and organs – that we all share despite unique and varied outward appearances.