CASE STUDIES
Date : November 18, 2025
Family Series Information Booklets
Client: Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE)
Project Duration: 6 months
Challenge:
The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) developed the Parent Information Series, a set of booklets designed to help families navigate the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process for students with disabilities ages 3 through 21. The goal was to provide parents and guardians with clear, accessible information on topics such as special education applications, parental rights, alternative education options, and post–high school transitions.
However, the original materials, created more than 15 years ago in Microsoft Word, were outdated, text-heavy, and visually unappealing. The information needed to be rewritten for clarity and consistency, brought up to date with current state laws, translated into 20+ languages to meet changing demographics, and made 508 compliant for web accessibility.
Solution:
Collaborating with a writer/editor, I led the redesign and modernization of the entire series. My goals were to ensure consistency in tone and voice across all booklets and to create a cohesive visual identity that tied the collection together while allowing each booklet to stand out individually.
I developed a clean, contemporary design template featuring:
• Clear and uniform typography
• Ample white space for readability
• Updated photography and iconography
• Infographics to simplify complex information
• A distinct color scheme for each booklet for easy identification
Results:
The redesigned Parent Information Series was visually engaging, accessible, and easy to navigate. A limited number of printed copies were distributed to principals across Maryland for teachers and parents, while all versions were made fully 508 compliant and published on the MSDE website. The materials were also translated into more than 20 languages to ensure inclusivity.
Each booklet was promoted through social media campaigns, and the series was later featured on local education news channels. Despite limited resources, the project successfully transformed outdated materials into a modern, user-friendly educational resource for Maryland families.
Memos and Reports – Microsoft Word Templates
Client: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Project Duration: 2 months
Challenge:
The Federal Aviation Administration relied on internal memorandum forms and report templates for communication across various departments. While Microsoft Word was the organization’s preferred platform for its accessibility and universal compatibility, the existing templates suffered from major design inconsistencies.
In the previous templates, formatting varied widely across documents, with inconsistent fonts, misaligned layouts, and no clear typographic hierarchy. Logos were often distorted or misplaced, and there was no standardized structure for page elements. These issues made official documents appear unprofessional and difficult to read or maintain.
Solution:
I redesigned the FAA’s memo and report templates in Microsoft Word to establish visual consistency, usability, and brand alignment. The goal was to create templates that were both professional and easy for staff to use without advanced design knowledge.
Key design enhancements included:
• A clean, structured layout with designated areas for department and division identifiers.
• Clearly defined heading hierarchy (Heading 1, Heading 2, etc.) to organize information logically.
• Embedded style sheets to maintain consistent typography, spacing, and alignment.
• Built-in instructions within each template to guide users on applying styles and formatting correctly.
• A color palette aligned with FAA brand standards.
• Sample layouts featuring tables, bulleted and numbered lists, and line art icons.
• Accessibility features to ensure documents met federal compliance standards.
Results:
The redesigned templates streamlined internal communication and provided FAA staff with standardized, user-friendly tools for creating professional memos and reports.
I developed multiple memo types, such as general announcements, briefings, and action items, each distinguished by a unique color-coded header within FAA brand guidelines. The report templates included a series of cover page options for different divisions, maintaining a cohesive brand identity across all materials.
By including style sheets and usage instructions, I ensured that even non-design staff could easily produce consistent, polished documents. The new templates improved efficiency, readability, and visual consistency across the organization’s communications.
