Context
Amnesty International needed to transform complex human rights research into compelling digital experiences that could reach global audiences and drive action. Traditional reports weren't engaging younger audiences or achieving the impact needed.
How might we present human rights investigations in ways that engage audiences emotionally while maintaining journalistic integrity and driving meaningful action?
Process
- Collaborated closely with researchers to understand investigation methodologies and evidence
- Designed interactive storytelling formats that revealed information progressively
- Created the Amnesty Decoders platform for crowdsourced human rights research
- Developed visual systems for presenting satellite imagery, testimonies, and data
- Tested experiences with diverse global audiences to ensure accessibility
Solution
A suite of digital investigation formats including scrollytelling reports, interactive maps, and the Decoders crowdsourcing platform. Each format was designed to make complex evidence accessible while preserving the gravity of human rights documentation.
Outcomes
- 'Tear Gas: An Investigation' won multiple digital journalism awards
- Amnesty Decoders engaged 50,000+ volunteers in human rights research
- Digital reports reached millions and influenced policy discussions globally
Learnings
- Emotional engagement and factual accuracy aren't mutually exclusive—design can serve both
- Participatory formats like Decoders created deeper engagement than passive consumption
- Accessibility was crucial—these stories needed to reach everyone, not just the privileged