Although short stature sometimes just runs in the family it can also indicate a serious medical problem. Deficient production of IGF-1 growth hormone presents children with daunting psychological challenges and leads to debilitating maladies such as heart disease as they grow older. Increlex, an artificial growth factor developed by Tercica (now Ipsen SA) addresses the problem by restoring growth of healthy muscles and bones.

As is so often the case treatment is most effective when administered early. That however requires diagnosis of a condition typically viewed as unfortunate but normal - being short. The Tercica annual report dispels popular misconceptions and underscores the gravity of the problem through an experiment in empathy. The best way to appreciate the suffering of others is to experience it yourself–even in the abstract.

Across an 8-page visual essay photos and text depict unsettling scenes from the lives of people suffering this disorder. However, by not showing the human subject at the center of the stories readers are compelled to imagine themselves in the situation instead of someone else.

Headline copywriting and design: Clay Williams