Adding style to substance for the Global CCS Institute
How do you design a serious report on a critical global issue in a way that feels coherent, persuasive and inspiring?
The Global CCS Institute is a leading international think tank whose mission is to accelerate the deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS), a vital technology to tackle climate change. The Global Status of CCS Report is their flagship annual publication, the global gold standard data set for the CCS sector referenced by governments, academics, companies and the media.
The institute approached us to design their 2023[?] report and bring to life the focus of the year: accelerating adoption of CCS by 2030, and the race to net zero by 2050. We needed to capture and express that focus, but at the same time present complex information in a digestible, cohesive way, without dumbing down the data or distracting from the details.
Our initial exploration confirmed that, as we developed the consistent look and feel for the report, the theme of exponential growth and acceleration was crucial.
We were inspired by the need for pace, with key words like momentum, scale, progression and forward thinking playing a big role in our creative thinking.
Our solution led with a visual representation of these keywords: a graphic line device with a real sense of energy. It advances. It moves. It changes course. The line’s constantly changing shape interacts and weaves through key content and pages.
The use of a gradient complements the Global CCS masterbrand 'sphere'. A similar gradient treatment of sector and bigger picture images adds visual consistency, further enhancing the narrative.
We also explored and used a secondary colour palette based on fresh and vibrant blues and greens – suggesting nature, air and the environment – a reflection of the positive changes in the industry.
The final delivery was a 110-page pdf report; a microsite; and a pdf executive summary.
