Publication Design — Agency: Michael Marshall Design
A Guide that Families Trust
Yearly informational booklets for DCPS families during key enrollment periods across 7+ years. The project involved overhauling logistics, and streamlining proofing and revision rounds to deliver these critical guides on time every year.
Project Highlights:
Delivered three printed guides annually—Middle School, High School, and Feeder Patterns—tailored to support enrollment decisions across 30+ DCPS schools
Managed, produced and coordinated delivery of an average of 10,650+ booklets per year, each 30+ pages, combining academic, extracurricular, and demographic information
Developed a revised proofing workflow that reduced production time by weeks and became the standard method used in later years
Proposed and championed ongoing design improvements to enhance readability and visual clarity across all booklets.
Maintained consistent design execution while refining layout for maximum at-a-glance readability across versions
Led cross-functional coordination between designers, vendors, and DCPS staff under tight timelines
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District of Columbia Public Schools, the District’s public education system serving over 51,000 students across Washington, D.C. from grades PK3 through 12, committed to a joyful and rigorous academic environment.
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Client Stakeholders (Office of Integrity, Enrollment & Attendance), Creative Services Director, two Designers, Print Vendor Consultant
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Design and produce yearly enrollment guides for two grade levels and district-wide enrollment
Manage timeline, production, and coordination with DCPS staff and vendors
Streamline data input and internal proofing across recurring materials
Ensure clarity and consistency in printed and digital formats
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Oversaw all aspects of creative and production across 7+ years
Updated live design files and implemented client edits directly
Created custom proofing templates to speed up revisions and reduce back-and-forth
Managed tight production timelines throughout multi-stage stakeholder approvals
Collaborated closely with DCPS stakeholders to ensure content accuracy and delivery windows
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The yearly school booklets were divided into three distinct publications—Middle School, High School, and Feeder Patterns—each designed to serve families in choosing their students next step. The design prioritized clarity and ease of use, using consistent layouts that highlighted key information: school-specific offerings, feeder paths, student demographics, and program highlights.
To meet the consistent tight production deadlines, I proposed an iterative streamlined proofing workflow. By identifying content patterns and creating a separate school-by-school proofing sheet, I reduced the time necessary for content-input and made it easier for stakeholders to share needed updates, saving weeks of time and eliminating costly errors and avoidable revisions. This method became the standard moving forward.
Content for all three booklets was typically provided upfront, which allowed us to follow a structured production schedule. We incorporated edits across multiple revision rounds, identified a print vendor, and handled coordination of files and delivery lists. Once final approvals were provided, we prepared press-ready production files and shared editable versions with the client, allowing their staff to implement smaller updates across the year if needed.
The booklets were delivered both digitally and through direct mail. Families came to depend on the booklets as a key tool for informed decision-making throughout the school year.
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Over 10,650+ printed copies produced annually
Proofing process overhaul became the standard model for DCPS booklet publications throughout the contract
Booklets became an established enrollment tool for DC families
Maintained a 7-year engagement built on trust, flexibility, precision, and reliability
