Amplifying Voices: Empowering Students of Color Nonprofit Report Design

REPORT COVER DESIGN
INTERIOR PAGE LAYOUT 
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
CREATIVE DIRECTION
PHOTO EDITING

In the fast-paced world of report design, meeting tight deadlines and client expectations can be a daunting challenge. However, for an experienced designer like myself, this challenge became an opportunity to showcase my skills and create a truly remarkable report that met the client's needs and left a lasting impression.

The Challenge

This report was centered around the theme “Seeing Myself”—a meaningful opportunity to amplify the voices and experiences of students of color and indigenous students as they transition into the workforce. More importantly, this report design needed to emphasize the vital link between students and teachers by sharing personal student perspectives on diversifying the teacher workforce and fostering a more inclusive culture of learning. 

This specific project presented a couple of challenges. First, the client needed this report design to be completed within 3-4 weeks, a tight timeline for any graphic designer. To accommodate this, I quickly provided the client with my two design options for review and choice, allowing us to proceed efficiently with the full report design. Second, the client had a limited budget that prevented hiring a photographer. I knew I would have to get creative in sourcing the right imagery to bring this report to life. 

Thankfully, my 20 years of expertise have equipped me with the skills needed to handle these kinds of challenges, especially during my time working at a weekly magazine publication. Working in the editorial office required a seamless blend of speed and creativity, two invaluable skills I now apply to every new project. I knew how much time I would need to complete a project like this, allowing me to implement my tried-and-true working system with clients. I needed to gather ideas quickly and build in enough time and space for back-and-forth feedback and adjustments. (For a detailed outline of my report process, click here.) Plus, I had already established a strong rapport with this nonprofit client over the past five years of working together, so I knew what to expect regarding communication, feedback, and their general process.

Regardless of these challenges, I was confident I could create a beautiful report design that would not only meet my client’s requirements but exceed their expectations.

The Approach

My design approach always starts with presenting the client with two different design concepts. This not only showcases my level of skill and adaptability, but it also gives the client a chance to hone in on the direction they want to pursue while giving them time to provide feedback and input early on in the process.

The winning design, inspired by the headline 'Seeing Myself,' was thoughtful. It was transformed into an approachable and personable design aimed at fostering a strong connection between students and teachers.

The Design Solution

I wanted to find a unique way to symbolize inclusivity and representation for the cover design. By dividing a circle in half, I could depict a student gazing up at a teacher of the same race and gender, promoting a sense of belonging and understanding. This powerful visual was further enhanced by using the client's branded colors, creating a lively and vibrant cover design that borders and secures the teachers and students, which worked nicely when designing the interior spreads.

I also wanted to add an extra layer of tactile appeal, so I incorporated a Laid paper effect, giving the report an upscale and approachable look. This textural element was further enhanced by using an outlined circle motif, which draws the reader’s eye to the photographs and creates visual continuity throughout the interior pages. I then added handwritten typography to give the report design a personal and approachable feel, ensuring that the cover and interior pages were visually connected.

My client's budget did not allow us to hire a photographer, so when designing the interior, I aimed to source images featuring diverse students that diverged from the conventional stock photography portrayal we are used to seeing. This careful selection of imagery laid the groundwork for the interior pages, which featured numerous quotes from students reflecting on their experiences in school. Since these quotes were so important to the report’s core message, I used juxtaposing colors within the client's branding palette to ensure they stood out on the page. Not only were the quotes easily readable, but they also served as vibrant design elements that complemented the overall layout.

The Results

The final report was a resounding success, delivered in record time and with a design that was both on-brand and uniquely captivating. Its early delivery also gave my client extra room to strategize their outreach plan. My ability to connect the headline, graphics, and mission of the report resulted in a cohesive and visually striking final product that exceeded the client's expectations.

The client was thrilled with the results, expressing their gratitude in multiple emails. As one client representative put it, "You have done such an outstanding job designing it and incorporating all our edits. We love it!”

“Thank you again, Karen. The work is exceptional, as always."

This serves as a testament to the power of thoughtful, strategic design and the ability to overcome challenges with creativity and ingenuity. By approaching the project with a clear vision, a deep understanding of the client's needs, and a keen eye for detail, I was able to create a report that not only met the client's requirements but also delivered a lasting impact.