Artemis McRae is a narrative design project developed with UVA Health Children's and the McRae family. It began with the creation of a children's story world centered on Artemis, a young dragon who travels through rivers, forests, plains, caves, lakes, treetops, and mountains, discovering play and wonder in each setting.

From the beginning, the work was conceived as more than a book. Story outlines, character design, spread sketches, mural integration studies, and activity concepts were developed as parts of one connected system so the same narrative could move between page, environment, and future interactive touchpoints. Book production and character drawing were led by Ben Ruff, Art Director at FREN.

That approach was especially meaningful in a pediatric healthcare setting. Familiar characters and gentle search-based play can soften waiting, reduce anxiety, and give children and families a clearer and more humane experience of care. Rather than treating storytelling as decoration, the project used it as a framework for emotional support.

The result was a unified package of narrative and environmental assets, including the book Artemis and Other Fantastical Things, character and landscape development, and a Pediatric Emergency Department waiting area mural concept. The mural translated the story world into a calm forest scene with hidden creatures, playful prompts, and layered visibility across glass and wall surfaces.

Taken together, the project established a flexible narrative platform for UVA Health Children's, one that could continue across print, environmental graphics, and future interactive experiences while remaining coherent and easy to enter for young patients and their families.