University of Essex – Understanding Society

Context
Understanding Society is the UK’s largest household longitudinal study, based at the Institute for Social and Economic Research at the University of Essex. The study provides vital evidence on social change and stability in everyday life, informing the work of UK Government departments, charities, think tanks, and businesses.

Brief
I was commissioned to create a series of illustrations for Insights, the annual publication from Understanding Society that highlights research of particular relevance to policymakers. For this edition, the illustrations were commissioned to explore three themes: gender equality and family, green lives, and quality of life in older age.

Approach
Each illustration was developed as a conceptual response to its theme, translating research findings into clear, accessible visual narratives. The work balanced sensitivity and clarity, ensuring the illustrations could support policy-facing content while remaining engaging to a broader audience.

Outcome
The final illustrations formed part of the Insights publication, helping to communicate complex social research in a visually coherent and approachable way for policymakers and stakeholders.