Empowering Data for Global Impact: Visualizing UNDP’s Contributions
In 2024, we continued our collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) which led to the creation of a dynamic web platform accompanying the 2023 Funding Windows Report. With over $112 million in resources delivered across 119 countries, the challenge was to present complex data in a visually engaging and accessible way, ensuring that the scale and impact of the initiatives were clear.
Our solution involved developing custom interactive graphics and visual storytelling tools that highlighted key achievements. The balance between innovation and clarity was essential to help users navigate and digest the report’s key themes.
Balancing Innovation with Institutional Identity
One of the most critical endeavor was working within the UN’s established design system. Maintaining the recognizable UN identity while innovating with custom data visualizations required a nuanced approach. We developed a seamless integration of UN’s branding elements—like color schemes and typographic styles—with fresh, creative visual solutions.
Through strategic collaboration with the UNDP team, we ensured that the custom graphics, from interactive maps to animated charts, adhered to the UN’s visual guidelines. This allowed us to innovate without losing the recognizability that is essential for global stakeholders and donors who engage with the report.
Crafting Data-Driven Narratives: Amplifying Global Efforts
Data-driven storytelling was at the heart of this project. By focusing on multidimensional poverty, gender equality, and resilience, we designed a series of custom infographics and data visualizations that brought the numbers to life. These visuals translated the scale of the UNDP’s global contributions into engaging user experiences.
For instance, we used a combination of interactive charts and static visuals to showcase how pooled resources were leveraged for impact in over 30 countries, working alongside 22 UN organizations, governments, and private sector partners. Every element was designed to tell a compelling story, while remaining intuitive and informative for users with different levels of expertise.
From Strategy to Engagement: Collaborative Design for Global Change
Our collaboration with the UNDP extended beyond design; it was about optimizing the way data was communicated. This required us to select images, data points, and design elements in close coordination with the UNDP team. The visuals not only had to adhere to strict guidelines but also needed to be engaging, representing the diversity and breadth of the UNDP’s impact.
We emphasized the use of powerful, contextually appropriate imagery that echoed the themes of resilience, poverty reduction, and gender equality. These elements, combined with the innovative data displays, helped to elevate the 2023 Funding Windows Report into a cohesive digital experience.
Innovating within Constraints: Custom Design Solutions for the UN System
Adhering to the UN’s design system posed a challenge in terms of creating something fresh yet familiar. The visual identity had to remain strong, but the content needed to engage stakeholders in new ways. Our team tackled this challenge by weaving innovation into the fabric of the design—subtle shifts in layout, interactive elements, and visual hierarchy made the report feel modern while staying within the boundaries of the UN’s recognizable brand.
By striking this delicate balance, we were able to create a website that both respects the institutional design norms and pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in terms of data visualization and user experience.