Design for development

A closer look at a recent report we designed for (RSB).

This post zooms in on key spreads, how information is structured, how visuals carry complex ideas, and how the overall system holds together.

The report unpacks Book & Claim systems and their role in scaling Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), with a strong focus on transparency and credibility in emerging markets.

Our approach was to strip things back: clear hierarchy, purposeful graphics, and a layout that makes technical content easier to navigate and understand.

We designed a deck of cards for a cooperative game called ‘Food as a Commons’: developed by a team of researchers as part of a project on food justice in South Africa during the Covid 19 pandemic. The game is used as an educational and knowledge sharing tool for small-scale farmers and fisherfolk.

The game is played by two to five players. They play in a team, rather than against one another, with the purpose of bringing their products to market for customers. Usually, it is played as part of a workshop and while it is fun, it also inspires players to reflect on food as a commons rather than just a commodity.
The game was created by a game designer, and our task was to design fun, colourful illustrative cards and packaging.

The project was conducted by Cape Town Urban Research Farmers, Weskusmandjie St. Helena Bay, Heinrich Boell Foundation, Cape Town, SOLIDARIDAD Southern Africa, INKOTA Netwerk e.V. and the Centre for Rural Development (SLE) at Humboldt-University.

Creative direction and production: Design for development
Illustration and design: Katerina Sonntagova

We’ve also designed another card game for MSF, check it out here: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7426341224128655361

Another successful (and beautiful) report made with live and compassion with Médecins Sans Frontières / MSF.

[Farmworkers]: Deadly pesticides

"“We do not even get training. After the pesticide is sprayed, you must go into that vineyard,” she explained. “I’m especially referring to Dormex. It’s the most dangerous pesticide we are dealing with...”

“It doesn’t matter what it does to the workers, as long as that pesticide is getting into the vineyard in time for the blooming and everything — that is their main goal and focus.”

Abrahams says she first brought the pesticide issue to the bosses ages ago. She said that farmers did not listen, and if they brought it up, they were likely to be fired and labelled as a troublemaker. Abrahams said that if you were chased away from a job, people could not simply apply at another farm close by, as the farmers communicated with one another about “troublemakers”."

Read more here: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-03-31-in-the-thorns-farmworkers-in-de-doorns-exposed-to-pesticides-fear-speaking-out/.

Meanwhile, the Women on Farms Project continues to call on the government to ban 67 Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) already banned in Europe. You can add your name to the petition here: https://awethu.amandla.mobi/petitions/end-the-double-standards-ban-deadly-pesticides-already-banned-in-europe.

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Designing the ‘MSF Manual for Key Populations Programming’ must count as one of our highlights for the year. The manual presents extensive knowledge from Médecins Sans Frontières / MSF staff experiences from around the world. It is aimed at Médecins Sans Frontières / MSF staff and other health care organisations, working with Key populations – which includes marginalised groups such as s*x workers, Trans and gender diverse people, People who use drugs, and people in prisons or closed setting. “Key populations are present in every context where MSF operates. However, they often remain unseen due to the fear of stigma and harassment from government, police, and health workers, and from within their communities.”

It was a pleasure working with this highly committed, knowledgeable and passionate team at Médecins Sans Frontières / MSF South Africa.

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