MiSide Community Impact Network | 2023 & 2024
The Challenge
These were the first two newsletters published under MiSide, the newly formed organization created from the merger of two separate nonprofits. The goal was to showcase the expanded programs while reinforcing the message that donor contributions continued to make a meaningful impact on people's lives.
One of the main challenges was the lack of a centralized story archive due to the merger. Collecting compelling client narratives from across all programs required additional effort, as there was no existing catalog of impact stories to pull from.
Role & Responsibilities
In addition to designing the newsletter layout and visual elements, I collaborated with a colleague to conduct in-depth client interviews. This involved:
- Visiting clients in their homes to capture firsthand stories of how MiSide’s programs impacted their lives.
- Writing and refining narrative-driven content that effectively conveyed these experiences to donors and stakeholders.
- Taking compelling photographs to visually enhance the storytelling and provide a deeper emotional connection.
- Coordinating with vendor to print and mail newsletter to established donors from our database
Process & Approach
Following MiSide’s brand guidelines, I focused on creating a layout that emphasized space and brightness, ensuring the design conveyed hope and positivity. Key design considerations included:
- Using light and inviting color palettes to maintain an uplifting tone.
- Ensuring text readability and logical content flow, using visual hierarchy to guide the reader’s attention.
- Highlighting key information with bolded sentences, making it easy for readers to scan and absorb important messages.
- Incorporating hand-drawn doodles, a signature element of the brand, to add a welcoming and approachable feel.
The Results
Tools & Technologies
Design & Editing: Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Lightroom, Procreate
Reflections & Takeaways
Always take more photos than expected during interviews to ensure flexibility in the design process.
Capture a variety of shots to provide more storytelling options when assembling the final layout.
Thoughtful design choices, such as color, spacing, and imagery, play a crucial role in shaping the tone and impact of a publication.