The Community College Research Center (CCRC) at Teachers College, Columbia University entrusted me with its first-ever biennial report—covering 2018–2020—with the goal of making dense research both compelling and easy to digest. We approached it like a magazine: opening with narrative features, supported by data-rich visuals and energetic layouts that invite exploration. We established a bold but approachable typographic hierarchy, allowing key statistics and insights to stand out. Vibrant accent colors—teal and deep blue—highlight infographics, call-outs, and section headers, giving structure and visual rhythm to the content. Photography of students, faculty, and classrooms was carefully chosen to underscore CCRC’s human-centered mission. Central to the design were infographics and custom data visualizations, which translated complex findings into clear charts and diagrams. These visuals were integrated directly with story-driven copy, reinforcing both context and credibility, and making the research feel dynamic rather than dry. The final deliverable is a richly designed, magazine-style report that blends narrative, imagery, and data seamlessly—a meaningful and accessible reflection of CCRC’s mission to support community college excellence.
Why it works
Narrative-driven structure: Designed as a magazine, it engages readers through storytelling supported by visuals.
Visual clarity: A consistent color palette and strong hierarchy make data and key messages instantly readable.
Integrated design toolkit: Infographics, photography, and editorial layouts were unified in a cohesive, replicable system.
