Client: Africa Policy Research Institute (APRI), via Soapbox

Brief:

APRI produced a comprehensive report that captures how young Africans across the continent are driving climate resilience in response to environmental and socio-economic challenges. Through a report, microsite, and podcast series, the project amplifies the voices of over 20 youth from diverse regions and sectors—including agriculture, education, health, tech, and activism—highlighting their innovations, challenges, and impact. My task was to bring these stories to life visually, creating illustrations that captured the vibrance and urgency of each storyteller’s experience.

Solution:

Working with the creative team at Soapbox, we developed a visual style inspired by personal journals—blending collage, cut-outs, and hand-drawn elements. These assets not only enriched the report and podcast visuals but also provided Soapbox with flexible components for animations on the microsite. The result was a cohesive visual system that tied together all three platforms while allowing for dynamic storytelling.

Process:

•Research & Immersion: Engaged with the project’s Look & Feel guidelines, youth interviews, and report themes.

•Visual Development: Created collage-style illustrations combining photography, hand-drawn shapes, and textures.

•Animation-Ready Assets: Designed individual elements that Soapbox could animate for the microsite, ensuring a seamless integration across formats.

•Final Touches: Integrated handwritten elements to reflect the intimacy and personal nature of each story.

Deliverables:

•Report Cover Illustration (A4)

•3 Divider Illustrations (A4)

•6 Story Illustrations for the microsite

•Podcast Cover Art

•Hand-drawn shapes (arrows, quote marks, textures)

Software Used:

Adobe Photoshop

Presenting: “RECLAIMING OUR FUTURE – Youth Resilience on a Planet in Crisis”

Impact:

This project amplified youth voices from across Africa, transforming research and interviews into an immersive visual experience. The illustrations provided an accessible, emotionally engaging entry point for audiences, deepening their connection to the stories. By designing adaptable assets, I also enabled Soapbox to create animations that brought the microsite’s storytelling to life—reinforcing the dynamic and evolving nature of youth resilience.

Who I Worked With:

•Margherita Cardoso – Creative Lead, Soapbox
•Phoebe Rixon – Project Manager, Soapbox

To view the project:

•Report PDF

•Podcast on Spotify

•Microsite