Mount Vernon Triangle Community Improvement District (CID), a nonprofit organization supporting economic development, cleanliness, and community vitality in the heart of Washington, D.C.

Client Stakeholders, Creative Director, Creative Services Director, two Senior Graphic Designers, Copy Editor, Photographer, Print Vendor

• Refresh and redesign the CID’s annual report to better reflect the community’s diversity and energy

• Balance reporting with visual storytelling and human-centric narrative

• Develop flexible layouts that could support future use and iteration

• Deliver annual report to community members and board members

• Led creative direction and execution across layout and illustration

• Managed project milestones, internal reviews, and final file preparation for production

• Coordinated directly with print vendors on formatting, proofs, and delivery timeline

• Collaborated with editorial and photography teams to align visual and verbal storytelling

• Delivered final report ahead of schedule

At project kick-off, the CID shared a desire to get away from the typical financial-report format and instead produce something more people-focused. Their goal: connect with residents, celebrate small businesses, and convey impact through a human lens.

In response, we advised shifting the editorial toward neighborhood stories and high-quality visuals. We coordinated a photo shoot to capture real residents and local businesses, creating a stronger emotional connection with the audience. Our copy editor revised formal sections of the report to introduce more engaging, community-forward language.

On the design side, we built the visual system around the CID’s signature triangle motif, using geometric overlays, vibrant color, and bold typography to structure information and drive visual interest. The combination of full-spread images and financial data ensured an balance between story and substance. A new fold-out district map became a standout feature and has since been updated annually.

• Report was completed and printed ahead of schedule

• Successfully repositioned the CID’s communications strategy toward a more resident-centric voice

• Select assets—such as the community map—have been repurposed in subsequent reports and placemaking campaigns

• Ongoing partnership with the CID led to additional work across digital collateral and publication design