Type: In-House Design Project
Role: Primary Designer
Tools Used: Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop

Overview:
As the primary designer on this high-priority project for the North Carolina Department of Education, I was tasked with designing a 40-page strategic planning booklet under a very tight two-week deadline. The booklet was intended to visually communicate progress on statewide educational initiatives in a clear, engaging, and accessible format.

Objective:
To create a clean, organized layout that could handle dense, text-heavy content while incorporating graphics, images, icons, and infographics to enhance clarity and visual interest. The challenge was to balance visual design with strict informational structure—ensuring key data and insights were easy to find and digest.

Approach:
I developed a layout system that broke the booklet into logical, easy-to-navigate sections:

• Vision

• Background

• SMART Goals Progress

• Metrics Progress

• Action Items Progress

• Next Steps

Each section was visually differentiated using a consistent system of colored headers, icons, and supporting graphics. I prioritized readability and consistency, using visual hierarchy and spacing to divide large blocks of text into manageable pieces. Infographics and section visuals were incorporated strategically to help reinforce complex data points and maintain reader engagement. My coworker supported the process by helping to place final images once the layout structure was established.

Outcome:
The final product was a well-organized, visually cohesive 40-page booklet that met the tight deadline and was well-received by the Superintendent. It successfully translated complex educational data into a digestible and professionally polished format, supporting the Department’s communication goals and strategic planning efforts.