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In coastal West Africa, more than 80 percent of plastic waste is mismanaged, posing escalating challenges to people, the economy, and the coastal and marine environment.
In coastal West Africa, more than 80 percent of plastic waste is mismanaged, posing escalating challenges to people, the economy, and the coastal and marine environment.
Project Overview
In coastal West Africa, more than 80 percent of plastic waste is mismanaged, posing escalating challenges to people, the economy, and the coastal and marine environment.
The World Bank commissioned The Ethical Agency (TEA) to design and produce a report intended to inform regional decision-makers about the challenges of plastic pollution and convey the urgent need for action. Synthesis: Plastic Pollution in Coastal West Africa effortlessly portrays the story of plastic pollution and its impacts on Coastal West Africa.
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Designed and art directed by our creative director, Brett Jefferson, this report places humans at the centre of its design. The core idea: humans connect with humans. This design tactic works exceptionally well for content-heavy reports and publications requiring full reader engagement from beginning to end. The result is a page-turning experience that draws the reader in, maintaining engagement and comprehension.
All worthwhile sustainability reports rely heavily on data and statistics. As the lead designer on this project, Brett’s main priority was to balance photography, data, and text for readability and flow. Brett used visually consistent demarcated blocks for graphs, charts, and data and well-placed, uncrowded text blocks to complement data-heavy sections. This approach ensured that complex information remained digestible, guiding the reader intuitively through the report without overwhelming them.
As a result of its impactful design and clarity, Synthesis: Plastic Pollution in Coastal West Africa was named a 2024 finalist at the SA Publication Forum’s Annual Publication Awards. This recognition highlights the report’s sustainability communication excellence, showcasing TEA’s report design prowess.
Brett enhanced clarity and engagement by maintaining a structured yet visually engaging layout. This allowed key insights to stand out whilst preserving the narrative’s momentum. Additionally, he used infographics and considered typography whilst developing a unique and culturally relevant style.
We deeply admire the World Bank’s commitment to tackling global sustainability challenges and consider every opportunity to collaborate with them an honor and privilege. Their work drives meaningful change, and we are proud to contribute to their mission through impactful design that informs and inspires action.
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We are delighted to be five-star rated on Google.
The World Bank commissioned the design of a synthesis report on plastic pollution in Coastal West Africa – a flagship publication addressing the escalating challenge of mismanaged plastic waste affecting over 80% of the region's coastal environment.
The publication design communicated the urgency and complexity of the plastic pollution issue clearly to policymakers, development professionals, and civil society – using data visualisation, maps, and structured editorial layout to make dense research accessible.
Having designed dozens of World Bank publications focused on Africa's blue economy and marine environment, it is well understood the Bank's style requirements while bringing visual clarity and impact to complex research outputs.
The report was produced in both print-ready PDF and web-optimised digital formats, ensuring wide distribution and accessibility across the Bank's global stakeholder network.
Yes, dozens of publicly available publication designs for the World Bank have been undertaken, focusing on blue economy, sustainable development, and marine environmental topics across Africa. View the case study portfolio to view more.
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