Conditions to Flourish, the Ecosystem for Narrative Power

Narrative change holds the power to reshape perceptions, influence culture, and drive systemic transformation, making it a vital tool for social progress.

The “Conditions to Flourish” report by the Global Narrative Hive presents a detailed exploration of the interconnected ecosystem of narrative actors, movements, and funders working to drive systemic social change. While the report contains critical insights, its complexity and academic tone posed challenges in making the content accessible to diverse audiences, including grassroots movements and practitioners. We Are Stories Studio was tasked with breaking down these intricate concepts and transforming them into engaging, accurate, and visually compelling illustrations. This case study documents our process, approach, and the outcomes of this collaboration.

To translate complex and interconnected concepts of narrative change into visually engaging illustrations that:

• Make the report accessible to a broader audience.
• Accurately represent the intricate relationships and ideas presented.
• Simplify the content to ensure greater accessibility.

Immersive Understanding of Content

We began by deeply engaging with the report to understand its structure, key messages, and intended audience. This phase included:

• Content Breakdown: Collaborating with the Global Narrative Hive team to identify core themes and crucial insights.
• Conceptual Mapping: Highlighting interconnected elements like narrative actors, movements, and funders.
• Audience Profiling: Ensuring the visuals would resonate with grassroots activists, campaigners, and researchers alike.

Collaborative Ideation

Once the content was mapped, we hosted co-creation workshops with the Hive team to:

• Brainstorm visual metaphors for abstract concepts (e.g., “ecosystems of narratives” and “narrative seeds”).
• Identify areas where diagrams or visual storytelling could simplify explanations.
• Establish a consistent visual language that aligned with the Hive’s values and branding.

Design Principles

We adhered to the following principles during the illustration process:

• Clarity: Simplifying without oversimplifying; ensuring accurate representation of complex relationships.
• Inclusivity: Reflecting diverse actors and movements, particularly those from the Global South and underrepresented groups.
• Aesthetic Appeal: Combining functional design with visual storytelling to maintain engagement.
• Consistency: Using a cohesive color palette, typography, and iconography to unify the report’s visual identity.

Iterative Creation Process

Our design team worked in iterative cycles to develop the illustrations:

• Sketch Phase: Initial wireframes and sketches of key visuals shared with the Hive team for feedback.
• Prototype Development: Refining sketches into polished digital illustrations.
• Feedback Integration: Incorporating stakeholder input to ensure both accuracy and resonance with the target audience.

1. Ecosystem Map:

• Visualized the relationships between narrative actors, movements, and funders using an interconnected web structure.
• Highlighted key roles (e.g., Builders, Creators, Broadcasters) with distinct color coding.

2. Conceptual Metaphors:

• Used symbols like seeds and soil to represent narrative planting and growth.
• Depicted bridges and pathways to illustrate collaboration and integration between fragmented parts of the ecosystem.

3. Diverse Character Illustrations:

• Showcased individuals from varied cultural and regional backgrounds to emphasize inclusivity.
• Incorporated grassroots actors, activists, and creatives in action to reflect real-world narrative-building.

A core aspect of our approach was the ethical representation of people. We prioritized depicting individuals as active participants and heroes in their stories, rather than victims of systemic challenges. This approach not only aligned with the Global Narrative Hive’s values but also celebrated the agency, resilience, and leadership of those driving change. Through thoughtful character design and storytelling, we ensured that every visual emphasized empowerment, diversity, and the strength of collective action.

1. Challenge: Representing Abstract Concepts Solution: Leveraged universal metaphors (e.g., ecosystems, bridges) to ground abstract ideas in relatable imagery.
2. Challenge: Avoiding Oversimplification Solution: Collaborated closely with the Hive team to ensure accuracy while streamlining content.
3. Challenge: Balancing Aesthetic with Functionality Solution: Prioritized legibility and clarity through strategic use of whitespace, hierarchy, and intuitive layouts.

• Enhanced Accessibility: The illustrations made the dense content approachable, enabling grassroots movements and practitioners to engage with the material more effectively.
• Increased Engagement: Feedback from stakeholders indicated that the visuals helped maintain reader interest throughout the report.
• Strengthened Representation: The inclusive design approach amplified the voices of marginalized groups, aligning with the Hive’s mission.
• Actionable Insights: Visuals like the ecosystem map equipped funders and practitioners with clear frameworks for understanding and collaboration.

By blending thoughtful design with strategic storytelling, We Are Stories Studio successfully transformed the Global Narrative Hive’s report into an accessible and visually compelling resource. Our process underscores the power of design in breaking down barriers to understanding, ensuring that critical insights are not only preserved but also amplified for diverse audiences. This case study exemplifies our commitment to leveraging design as a tool for meaningful social impact.