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USAID’s eight-year Climate Strategy is the Agency’s flagship roadmap for cutting global emissions, mobilising finance and strengthening resilience in more than 80 countries.
As lead designer, I transformed a dense, 100-plus-page policy draft into a clear, 508-compliant handbook—building a modular grid, custom iconography and data-rich infographics that let readers grasp goals, targets and action pathways at a glance.
The final English master file became the template for Arabic, French and Spanish editions and now anchors climate-diplomacy briefings, mission roll-outs and partner workshops worldwide.
2020-2022 (published 2022)
USAID
100-page print + digital strategy
Lead Designer/Art Director
Layout & Infographics
Accessibility Compliance
USAID’s new Climate Strategy is the Agency’s marquee, White House-backed roadmap for cutting emissions, mobilising finance, and boosting resilience in more than 80 partner countries over the next decade. I led the end-to-end design of the 100-page handbook—turning dense policy text into an accessible, 508-compliant publication with a flexible grid, custom iconography, and data-driven infographics that work in English, Arabic, French, and Spanish.
The source material arrived as detailed policy chapters, extensive data tables, and six ambitious global targets—including a 6-billion-ton CO₂e reduction and $150 billion in climate finance. With an April 2022 launch fixed to White House climate announcements, I needed to convert this evolving content into a single, 508-compliant, brand-consistent publication that could be quickly localised into Arabic, French, and Spanish—while accommodating ongoing input from HQ and 80 country missions.
Lead Designer/Art Director – Custom infographics
508 accessibility checks
Multilingual template production Stakeholder coordination
To ground the layout in USAID’s long-standing visual language, I began by auditing the Agency’s brand guide—colour formulas, Gill Sans hierarchy, and accessibility rules—then combed Pinterest and design archives for fresh ways to inject energy without drifting off-brand. I explored soft-shadow “neomorphism” cards, subtle depth cues, and bold colour blocking that could frame full-bleed photography while still passing Section 508 contrast tests.
Dozens of quick comps tested how cut-out-style images and call-out boxes could break up long policy passages, using Gill Sans in varying weights to steer the eye from headline targets to body copy. I prototyped alternate colour accents and drop-shadow treatments, printing spreads and viewing them on low-bandwidth screens to ensure legibility everywhere the strategy might appear—from a mobile PDF in Nairobi to a briefing binder on Capitol Hill.
The resulting visual system keeps USAID’s core blue-red palette and Gill Sans typeface, but layers in dimensional cards, dynamic photo knock-outs, and high-impact pull quotes—giving the Strategy a modern, human-centred feel while staying unmistakably “USAID.”
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Beyond the core layout, I developed a library of custom graphics to turn dense policy language into memorable, scan-friendly visuals. Drawing on a flat-illustration style that complements USAID’s brand, I built modular icon sets, 2-D scene illustrations, and data-driven infographics that highlight key figures—such as the six-billion-ton CO₂e reduction target or the $150 billion finance goal—at a glance.
Each graphic follows a consistent grid and colour logic, so charts, maps, and call-out stats can be reordered without breaking visual rhythm. The flat style keeps file sizes light for low-bandwidth regions, while subtle shadows and layered cards add just enough depth to feel contemporary. Together, these infographics punctuate long text blocks, guide readers through complex concepts, and reinforce USAID’s climate narrative wherever the Strategy is read.
Released in April 2022, the finished 100-page Climate Strategy launched simultaneously in English, Arabic, French, and Spanish. USAID Missions in 80-plus countries now reference the handbook as their primary climate-action guide, and excerpts have appeared in Senate briefings, COP side-events, and multilateral funding proposals.
The design system’s modular grids, icon suites, and data-viz templates have since been reused in follow-on policy notes—saving the agency countless layout hours while keeping its climate messaging visually consistent.
You can view the full, published document here:
USAID Climate Strategy 2022–2030.