Promoting Inclusive Data Collection for Girls and Young Womens Leadership and Participation.

Equal Measures 2030 entrusted We Are Stories with the task of visually bringing their transformative report, “She Leads: Closing Gaps, Opening Doors,” to life. This report highlights the importance of inclusive data collection to empower girls and young women (GYW) in leadership and participation. Alongside the report, we also created a Youth Brief and an Advocacy Brief to ensure the findings reached and resonated with diverse audiences.

Our design approach was guided by three core principles: empathy, engagement, and empowerment. We aimed to craft visuals and layouts that would not only effectively communicate key insights but also connect emotionally with audiences ranging from policymakers to young advocates.

Putting the Audience First


• We collaborated closely with stakeholders, including Equal Measures 2030’s team, youth leaders, and advocacy groups, to understand their needs and expectations.
• Our designs prioritized clarity and accessibility, with clean typography, intuitive layouts, and a thoughtful color palette that struck a balance between authority and warmth.

Telling a Visual Story

• Illustrations served as a universal language to amplify the report’s message of inclusion and empowerment.
• Each visual was crafted to represent the strength, diversity, and optimism of GYW worldwide—from rural leaders to urban change-makers.
• Complex data was transformed into vibrant infographics and data visualizations, making the insights both engaging and easy to digest.

Illustration Philosophy

The illustrations were designed to challenge stereotypes and celebrate the resilience and leadership of girls and young women. Key themes included:

• Collaboration: Showcasing diverse groups of GYW working together to create meaningful change.
• Resilience: Depicting young leaders overcoming systemic and societal barriers in various settings.
• Cultural Authenticity: Infusing cultural diversity into every visual element to reflect the global nature of the research.

We struck a balance between joy and strength in the illustration style, using dynamic lines and bold, vibrant colors to capture the courage and vibrancy of the individuals portrayed.

To ensure the report’s findings were accessible to all, we created two additional deliverables:


• The Youth Brief distilled the core insights into an engaging, concise format tailored for younger audiences. With bold graphics and relatable language, it aimed to inspire and mobilize action.
• The Advocacy Brief focused on empowering policymakers and advocates with actionable recommendations, supported by compelling visuals and clear storytelling.

Immersion and Concept Development:

• We immersed ourselves in the report’s content, identifying key themes and narratives to highlight visually.
• Collaborative workshops with stakeholders helped refine the creative direction.

Iterative Design Process:

• Feedback loops with Equal Measures 2030 ensured alignment with advocacy goals and audience needs.
• The designs were polished to reflect both accessibility and the client’s brand identity.

Seamless Delivery:

• We delivered the final report and briefs on schedule, ensuring they met the highest standards of design and functionality.

The report, along with the Youth and Advocacy Briefs, has been widely celebrated for its thoughtful design and accessibility. These materials:

• Amplified the importance of inclusive data collection and GYW leadership on a global scale.
• Empowered youth advocates with tools to initiate meaningful conversations.
• Equipped policymakers with clear, actionable insights to drive change.

Designing the “Closing Gaps and Opening Doors” report was a deeply rewarding experience for our team at We Are Stories. This project reinforced our belief in the transformative power of thoughtful design. By visually amplifying the voices of girls and young women, we hope to have contributed to the global movement for gender equality. It was an honor to bring this story to life and to play a role in advocating for a more inclusive future.