Oregon Food Bank Ambassador Program

I was tasked with creating a multi-page document of the Oregon Food Bank’s Food Systems Ambassador Program, a program that helped local BIPOC residents become “ambassadors” in their community, teaching them skills to increase food security. This document would showcase both the program's successes and areas for improvement, persuading other nonprofits to implement similar community-serving initiatives. The document needed to be produced in both English and Spanish while maintaining their established brand identity. I was also asked to design graphs and charts to communicate data collected from the ambassador’s feedback.

I worked directly with the Oregon Food Bank's multimedia producer, handling everything from initial concept development through final production. My role was to translate their existing brand guidelines into a fresh visual direction while ensuring the document effectively communicated the program's value. As part of my inspiration, I reviewed their previous documents to identify elements that could be adapted for this project. The client encouraged me to push their brand concept as far as possible and gave me freedom to experiment within their guidelines. Throughout the design process, I made sure to explain my thinking behind specific design choices, regularly seeking feedback to ensure the document aligned with their vision.

The visual direction is built around the concept of "layers" to reflect the natural layers found in food systems and plant life. This theme inspired the overlapping circular elements in the charts and the photography showcasing layered textures in nature. I selected green and orange from their brand palette to create a duo-tone effect, adding visual interest to the photography while staying true to their color system. I experimented with shades, texture, tint, blend modes, and opacity to make the chart data stand out while remaining within their branding. A big part of the process was transforming raw data into engaging graphs, analyzing each set to determine the most effective method to communicate the data.

The final document spanned 20+ pages in the English version and 25 pages in Spanish. The team responded enthusiastically to how I pushed their brand beyond its typical corporate appearance while respecting their core guidelines. They responded to my work, saying they appreciate working with someone who understood their brand identity and was willing to experiment with its potential. The project demonstrates how thoughtful brand experimentation can refresh an organization's visual approach while maintaining consistency and effectively communicating information.