Model for Change Illustration – Saferworld

Model for change illustration. Journey route map for Saferworld, NGO working internationally for peace

Project

Saferworld: Model for Change

Client

Saferworld

Vision

A just and peaceful world, in which everyone enjoys the rights and freedom to live and thrive with dignity, free from fear and insecurity.

Saferworld is an independent international organisation working to prevent violent conflict and build safer lives.

They work with people affected by conflict in over 10 countries across Asia, Africa and the Middle East – to improve their safety and sense of security and to evolve better policies and practices at local, national and international levels that can help build lasting peace.

As part of Saferworld’s 10 year Strategic Plan, I was asked to create an illustrative graphic of their model for organisational change – to explain visually who Saferworld are and what they do, as an organisation with a clear vision, purpose and strategy.

Although there were quite a lot of details and subtleties to include, the completed graphic feels simple and conveys the idea of a journey/progression, through Saferworld’s strategic objectives, approaches, and general values towards what are defined as the essential conditions for peace.

As well as explaining the strategy, it was designed to allow the people connected with Saferworld – donors, staff, the Board of Trustees, partners they work with at different levels and other interested parties such as other peacebuilding NGOs – to identify themselves and understand how their roles fit within the broader organisational strategy.

The final graphic tells the Saferworld story of contributing to change. As an organisation they pride themselves on a holistic and integrated approach, where all elements of the journey are connected and influence change, but can be adapted for different cultural contexts.

4 people unraveling the issues which have led to conflict — The start of the journey: Working with partners to unravel the underlying issues of conflict

A diagram showing different groups of people and stakeholders connected together — Engaging with different groups of people at different levels, to build networks and work around the various approaches

Illustration of different size blocks showing work is being done at different levels - local to international — Working at different levels: Important for there not to be any sense of hierarchy or that one level is more important than another

Illustrative diagram of strategic objectives — The Strategic Objectives are given equal prominence, and can be worked through in any order

Illustration linking together the conditions needed to achieve peace — The freedom and opportunities open to people when a state of peace exists

For flexibility of use

Individual icons and illustrations can be used separately within documents and presentations, as needed.

Process

The early stages of this project involved a number of different sketch versions. There were changes to the brief and I needed to adapt the layout to reflect these as well as taking care to reflect the complex and various subtleties and sensitivities of the illustration content.

Included is what I call a ‘hybrid sketch’ – part sketch, part finished artwork. This serves as a work in progress, to show the proposed illustration style for elements that have been signed off, and as an easier way to show the client how certain elements could work, specifically the Levels and Approaches sections.

Usually my aim is to have the sketch fully signed off before starting on the final artwork, but sometimes it’s helpful to adapt the process a little in order to move things forward.

Illustration sketch of Saferworld’s model for change

WIP illustration of Saferworld’s model for change

Journey route map showing the stages and conditions needed to achieve peace

We are extremely happy with the final graphic and have received great feedback from staff across the organisation and our partners. Carys is very thorough, patient, creative and detail-orientated. A pleasure to work with!

For flexibility of use

Process

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