International Rivers is an Oakland-based global non-profit dedicated to protecting vital river systems and defending the rights of the communities that depend on them. Their mission is to ensure that water and energy needs are met without compromising nature or increasing poverty, ensuring local voices are central to the decision-making process.

When I began working with the organisation in 2018, their visual identity had not been updated in several years and no longer reflected the scale or urgency of their global influence. I was invited to lead a comprehensive design overhaul, beginning with their New Strategic Plan.

Design process

• A contemporary design direction that aligned with their vision of healthy, protected rivers. This involved moving away from outdated aesthetics toward a clean, powerful, and professional visual narrative.

• Following the success of the Strategic Plan, I applied this new direction to a suite of high-impact publications, including thematic reports, brochures, and their Annual Report.

• Using these publications as a foundation, I created a comprehensive style guide. This ensured visual consistency across their international offices, providing clear rules for typography, colour usage, and imagery. I developed a full library of custom templates to empower the internal team to produce professional, on-brand materials with ease.