merit
MDA is the No. 1 voluntary health organization in the United States for people living with muscular dystrophy, ALS, and related neuromuscular diseases. Inclusivity and accessibility are uniquely important to MDA and the neuromuscular community, including those with visual and mobility impairments.
MDA built its Quest Media adaptive lifestyle platform around its flagship Quest magazine to connect with the neuromuscular disease community in new, accessible, and inclusive ways. The Quest Media platform includes a magazine, blog, podcast, e-newsletter, product guide, and employment resource hub. Quest magazine, the program’s premier touchpoint, informs and empowers readers with content on research and clinical updates, personal stories, and lifestyle topics like employment, accessible travel, adaptive fashion, home modifications, and more.
In 2025, MDA partnered with BackPocket Agency to design and publish Quest magazine, as well as create blog and e-newsletter content, and manage the Quest Media website and digital advertising. MDA challenged BackPocket to give Quest magazine a refreshed design that follows its brand style and provide editorial support that carries on the tradition of credibility. BackPocket was also tasked with ensuring MDA’s voice, tone, and brand were consistent across the Quest Media website and various content channels.
Specific goals for the BackPocket team included ensuring that:
The magazine resonates with MDA’s audience by using data to inform our content strategy, design, and planning.
The design and content experience are fully accessible to the neuromuscular disease community.
The magazine features scientific information and insightful content, covering accessible travel, adaptive fashion, home modifications, personal stories, and other topics that serve the neuromuscular disease and broader disability communities.
Accessibility and inclusivity are at the heart of our design and content work:
Bite-sized content, including infographics and illustrations, to simplify complex topics
Accessible fonts and high-contrast colors to ensure clarity and ease of reading
Thoughtful planning of white space, larger fonts, and clear headings
Icons to guide readers to related content online
Research and science-related articles that include a glossary of terms
Infographics and charts on the center spread, so they can be taken out for future reference
Advertising pieces with mobility limitations in mind (EG: cover tip that can be easily removed)
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) compliant Quest website
Recent reader survey results:
