Arts Education Non-Profit Report
The Need
Spy Hop is a youth arts education non-profit based in Utah that had contracted with Convergence Design Lab to study past program participants as they moved into adulthood and the lasting impacts on both the individuals and their larger communities. They were very enthusiastic about the results that Convergence had uncovered and needed a report design that conveyed the statistics, individual participant stories, and impact in a package that was both scholarly, but also included design elements that were in line with Spy Hop’s bright and creative branding.
The Project
Spy Hop branding is largely driven by color, but iterations of it for various programs and events are an ever-evolving kaleidoscope of form and illustration. I knew I’d need to create a visual system from the ground up, alongside restrained typography, which allowed the report to be easily read, while directing the user’s attention to pertinent statistics and quotes from participant surveys and interviews. Because the report was nearly 70 pages long, wayfinding also was a key consideration, helping to orient the reader quickly.
The Process
I started by considering how to incorporate the branding within the document. Spy Hop uses cyan, magenta, yellow and black as their main branding colors, as well as a logo with a squared-off shape with two rounded corners. Convergence Design Lab had developed a model of talking about the alumni impact as a ripple effect, so I embraced both the circles and rounded corners as I started to develop page elements.
I created a handful of set styles for representing statistics and quotations, mixing and matching them as the design needed. I also developed a flexible page layout, so the content could shift from 1 column to 2 columns periodically, keeping the user’s interest and accommodating wider tables when necessary.
Another key element of the document was the spotlight stories of participants, both reflecting their experiences with Spy Hop and how they had continued this creative expression in their lives since the program. Most of these spotlights are a single page (with two that are longer), and while they are placed intentionally within context, they stand apart from the flow of information of the report.
I created a flexible 2-page spread design with a colorful, joyful textured background of overlapping circles and text container shape that signaled to the reader that they were moving out of the narrative of the report and focusing on an individual’s experience. Photographs are only used within these pages and I styled them to mimic the shape of the Spy Hop logo. The result is a brief pause from the data and findings of the report and a moment to dig in on one young adult’s experience and the lasting impact that Spy Hop has had on their life.
In our work with Spy Hop, Convergence Design Lab was tasked not only with producing a 70-page research report, but also overseeing a design that needed to feel engaging and accessible while maintaining the rigor and weight of a scholarly publication. Kate struck that balance beautifully.
We pushed the work further by asking for data visualizations that would be compelling and readable, rather than defaulting to standard tables. We also challenged her to create a visual representation of the report’s central concept—the Ripple Effect. Despite the complexity and density of the content, Kate developed an elegant, intuitive graphic that became the centerpiece of the report and will continue to serve Spy Hop as a versatile communication tool for years to come.
Simply put, working with Kate raises the bar. After collaborating with her, it’s hard to imagine working with anyone else.
In addition to the spotlight sections that incorporated large amounts of color, I wanted to break apart the report by sections and create a riotous, bold page at the beginning of each, to visually separate the work. While Spy Hop wanted to print a certain number of copies of the report, it will largely be shared online and I wanted someone quickly scrolling or looking at a panel of page thumbnails to wayfind easily with large typography so they could quickly skip around within the pages if they desired.
Another wayfinding element happens in the area the breaks down the three major findings of the report. At the top of each page is a restatement of the particular finding the reader is in, so they can easily see how the content connects together. Additionally, the table of contents at the beginning of the report is hyperlinked to major sections and titles throughout, facilitating the user jumping to where they want to be upon opening up the report, if necessary.
I also created a custom diagram of the ripple effect for the report, that details the impacts of Spy Hop programming and mentorship, both for individual participants and their communities as a larger whole.
The end result of the work is a document that keeps the reader engaged and expresses multiple types of information both with professionalism and playfulness. The report will give Spy Hop a way to express to their community in Utah, policy-makers, and funders the importance of their work. Convergence Design Lab and Spy Hop were both thrilled with the outcome of the report, the details I incorporated, and the process of working with me to create a strong output that can be used for fundraising and communication of impact.
I can’t say enough about what it’s like to work with Kate Burgener. She is the consummate professional—organized, reliable, and consistently delivering exactly what she promises, on time and at a high level of quality.
What sets Kate apart, though, is her depth of experience and design intuition. She asks the right questions, pushes you to make thoughtful decisions, and has an exceptional ability to translate a client’s vision into a design that feels both precise and elevated.
