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SEARCHLIGHT INSTITUTE

Brand Identity & Digital Platform

Designed complete digital ecosystem for high-profile political non-profit founded by Adam Jentleson. Designed responsive website with interconnected content architecture enabling research filtering, dynamic policy section population, and fellow-research linking through intelligent tagging system. Created comprehensive brand identity featuring bold visual concept combining American civic iconography with contemporary digital aesthetics to differentiate from traditional think tank imagery. Developed data visualization standards and social media templates. Managed three-phase development process accommodating evolving organizational needs from fellowship portal to full research platform supporting September 2025 launch.

Development by Jonathan Hooper.

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wall with postits organizing student functions between three teams: producers, designers, and editors

wall with post-its organizing a four week zine production schedule

students working in a classroom putting postits on wall

Pratt Institute

Design Ethics and Practice Course

Created comprehensive course framework integrating Design Justice principles with hands-on research methodologies, culminating in collaborative publication as ethical practice. Designed course materials, workshop exercises, field trips, and collaborative publication processes while managing group dynamics across international student cohorts. Created inclusive learning environments accommodating diverse participation styles, mentoring students through field research, participatory co-design workshops, and critical examination of how design decisions impact environmental, social, and cultural equity.

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World Connect

Website Redesign

Led UX research and information architecture redesign for international development nonprofit. Transformed 1,200+ page site into streamlined user experience serving donors, grantees, and partners across 42 countries through comprehensive discovery and collaborative design process.

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image depicting miro boards used for card sorting exercise

wireframes of homepage, what we do, our network, our impact, and get involved pages

Open Society Foundations

COVID-19 Campaign

Headed design strategy for global transparency campaign showcasing foundation emergency investments during pandemic. Created scalable social media templates that made complex funding data accessible across multiple countries.

rising to the challenge video series title card

social card showing covid-19 response investment in Moldova

social card defining vaccine sovereignty

social card for confronting covid 19 camping listing one of the pillars, "supporting low-wage workers and pro-labor reforms"

social card showing covid-19 response investment in Myanmar

Open Society Foundations

Ukraine Crisis Response Campaign

Oversaw emergency design response for Ukraine crisis communications, managing external agency partnership to create scalable visual frameworks enabling real-time content deployment while maintaining cultural sensitivity during humanitarian crisis.

social card announcing "Open Socity launches fund for a free and democratic ukraine"

title card asking "where are Ukraines children?"

Social media card with text: "Since 2014, Ukrainian children have been moved from orphanages, schools, and camps under the guise of a Russian humanitarian campaign to 'protect abandoned children' in Russian-occupied zones." Background photo shows children with toys scattered on the floor.

"After the full-scale invasion in 2022, these deportations escalated, and reports emerged of children tricked into travelling to supposed summer camps, or separated from their guardians suspected of pro-Ukrainian activities." Background image shows abandoned playground equipment and deteriorated outdoor recreational area. Source: Human Rights Center Zmina.

Quote card on light blue background: "The Russians said that my mother did not need me and that I would be given to a foster family in Russia. Imagine, they didn't even let me say goodbye to my mother." - Oleksandr, a 12 year old from Mariupol who was separated from his mother in a Russian "filtration camp". Background shows partial view of bus window.

Close-up photograph of a child wearing a Minnie Mouse winter hat looking through a rain-streaked bus window.

"Once inside Russia, it is difficult to retrieve them." Text overlay on black background. Below: "The children get transferred into Russian institutions where their name or date of birth might be changed. Teenage boys could be drafted into the army and forced to fight against their home country, and some children are forced into adoption." Source: Human Rights Center Zmina.

"Stranded without identification documents or a way to contact their families, their identity as Ukrainians is getting erased." Text overlay on photograph showing several children playing outdoors near a fence with Ukrainian flag colors visible in background elements.

Quote card on light blue background: "These children, aged 10 or 11 years, don't understand clearly that they are victims of this crime...They were prohibited from speaking Ukrainian, taught to love the Russian Federation, sing the Russian anthem, and were militarized." - Alena Lunova, Advocacy Director at Human Rights Center Zmina.

"The ICC has issued an arrest warrant for President Vladimir Putin and Children's Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova for their role in the deportations, but there is still no mechanism to bring the children back to their families." Text overlay on photograph showing an emotional embrace between a mother and child.

Open Society Foundations

Narrative Social Media Design

Developed storytelling frameworks for Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter campaigns highlighting individual voices and community impact. Created visual systems that amplified personal narratives while maintaining brand consistency across diverse cultural contexts.

☞ Click arrows to navigate through each example.

"THIS CITY IN COLOMBIA DECREASED ITS HOMICIDE RATE BY 29% IN ONE YEAR. How did it do it?" - Social media card featuring photograph of children and youth painting a colorful mural on a yellow wall with green text.

Map of Colombia highlighting Palmira with text: "For over a decade, Palmira has ranked among the 50 most violent cities in the world. In 2011, a spike in violence put the number of homicides at 98.1 per 100,000 residents—far above the national average of 26.8."

Portrait of smiling mayor Oscar Escobar standing in front of colorful street art mural with text: "After security and public safety investments failed to reduce violence, Palmira mayor Oscar Escobar started PAZOS to address the root causes of violence: lack of education and employment opportunities."

"The PAZOS program focuses on young people because they are both more likely to commit crimes and be victims." - Card featuring photograph of young person painting a wall with green paint, demonstrating community art engagement.

PAZOS program impact statistics: "Not only has the homicide rate dropped over the last year, but of the young people who have participated in PAZOS: 86% prepared their resumes, 67% participated in job interviews, 50% say they now resolve their conflicts through dialogue."

"For many LGBTQ+ Ugandans, religion no longer provides safety and belonging" - Social media card with light green text overlaid on close-up portrait of person's face partially visible through foliage.

Portrait of DeLovie Kwagala in white head covering and clothing against neutral background. Text: "Trans and nonbinary photographer and activist DeLovie Kwagala has been documenting stories of Uganda's LGBTQ+ community, and hopes to dispel the stereotype of queerness as an enemy of religion." Note: "*Photos and quotes have been anonymized for the subjects' safety"

Quote card on dark background: "I used to keep a dress for church because I still wanted to honor my god. But now, all eyes are on us and we can't even move freely." - Tommy*. Features abstract photographic elements and fabric textures.

Quote card: "Someone recognized me at the mosque even under the hijab and I had to run for my life." - Sonia*. Features dark background with artistic fabric photography and deep red accent panel.

Quote: "Someone recognized me at the mosque even under the hijab and I had to run for my life." - Sonia*. Dark background with fabric photography and red accent panel.

Quote: "Some of us are traumatized because we love our religion, and we try to use the mosques to pray, even if it has been uncomfortable dressing a certain way." - Zee*. Features photograph of two people embracing outdoors with palm trees.

Close-up portrait of person with natural hair positioned behind architectural column against mint green background.

"We live segregated lives and we live in different stories. And the question is: Who can hold those stories?" - Text on brown textured background with horizontal dividing lines.

"We all can." - Text on brown textured background with horizontal dividing lines.

"Lifting up Black people, lifting up Native people, lifting up Latinos and Asians, doesn't mean we're putting down white people." - Text on brown textured background with horizontal dividing lines.

"It does mean that there's a history of this country being organized around white supremacy. We've got to come to terms with that." - Text on brown textured background.

"1994 - Launching Open Society's U.S. Work" - Text on black background describing OSF's expansion to push broader reforms of systemic racism in the criminal justice system after working against U.S. drug policies that unfairly target Black Americans.

"1998 - Focusing on Black Americans in Baltimore" - Description of George Soros launching the Open Society Institute-Baltimore with $113 million investment. Features photograph of diverse group of students raising hands in classroom setting.

"2003 - Expanding Racial Justice Work" - Description of OSF addressing racial inequality by defending voting rights and civil rights. Features photograph of smiling Black woman wearing patriotic hat at polling station, holding official sample ballot.

"2007 - Investing in Black Men and Boys" - Description of OSF's $20 million pledge to Campaign for Black Male Achievement. Features photograph of young Black men at what appears to be a formal meeting or educational event.

"2011 - Fighting Stop and Frisk" - Description of OSF helping develop Communities United for Police Reform campaign to challenge NYPD's racist practices. Features photograph of protest with child on adult's shoulders, "END STOP & FRISK" banner visible.

"2014 - Accelerating the End of Mass Incarceration" - Description of OSF's $50 million pledge to ACLU. Features close-up photograph of incarcerated individuals' hands in blue uniforms.

"2019 - Supporting the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund" - Description of OSF's $15 million pledge for the institution's 80th anniversary. Features photograph of hand holding "COUNT ME IN" sign with U.S. Supreme Court building in background.

"2020 - Building Black Power" - Text on coral/orange background describing OSF's $220 million investment to build power in Black communities, promote anti-racist policies, and help first-time activists stay engaged.

Open Society Foundations

Justice Rising Awards

Developed complete visual identity and branding system for annual awards program celebrating justice advocates globally. Led creative direction from concept through implementation across digital and print materials in collaboration with full-service design agency, ensuring brand alignment and strategic consistency.

Justice Rising Awards website showing individual awardee page for Prentiss Haney from Cincinnati, OH. Features portrait of Black man with locs and glasses in front of library bookshelves. Left sidebar lists all awardees, main content describes Haney as "Organizer working to increase youth civic participation and voter engagement" and co-executive director of Ohio Organizing Collaborative.

Justice Rising Awards website homepage featuring "CELEBRATING BLACK LEADERSHIP IN RACIAL JUSTICE" headline with raised fist against American flag background and video play button. Below shows grid of three awardee portraits: Amber Goodwin (Austin, TX), Colette Pichon Battle (New Orleans, LA), and Dara Cooper (Atlanta, GA), each with brief descriptions of their organizing work.

Open Society Foundations

Publication Design

Directed publication design strategy and production management across 30+ international offices. Coordinated cross-functional teams including copy editors, photo editors, and program staff to develop flexible design approaches enabling culturally relevant content creation while maintaining organizational brand standards.