Publication Design · Information Design · Adobe InDesign

Turning a dense public-health strategy into a clear, repeatable publication system.

For CDC’s Division of Overdose Prevention, I designed and produced an 11-page strategic plan that had to move from high-level vision and goals into detailed, numbered strategy content without losing clarity.

I treated the document as a system: define the hierarchy, establish repeatable page patterns, build strong visual cues, then apply them consistently from the opening overview through the most content-heavy pages.

View the process See final pages
  • Publication Design
  • Information Architecture
  • Visual Systems
  • InDesign Production
Cover of the CDC Division of Overdose Prevention Strategic Plan
Adobe InDesign workspace showing the CDC strategic plan cover in production
11 pages 3 priority goals Print + PDF

Project overview

Designing the information system before styling the pages.

The plan moves from vision, mission, goals, engagement criteria, organizational structure, and cultural values into detailed strategy and activity content. The design challenge was to make those different information types feel connected, scannable, and credible.

My role

Publication and visual design, hierarchy, layout system, typography, page production, and final-document refinement.

Core challenge

Organize dense strategic content for readers who may scan for priorities or read deeply into individual activities.

Design approach

Build a modular page architecture with predictable hierarchy, visual cues, and reusable content patterns.

Deliverable

A cohesive strategic publication prepared for digital PDF use and print-ready distribution.

01

The challenge

One document had to support executive-level summaries, organizational information, goals, strategies, and highly detailed numbered activities.

02

The goal

Create a publication that could be scanned quickly, read in depth, and referenced later without readers losing their place in the hierarchy.

03

My response

I used repeatable headers, goal templates, numbered activity structures, callouts, icon cues, photography, and consistent spacing to turn the content into a system.

Content architecture

I converted the plan into repeatable information patterns.

I started by identifying the recurring content types that needed their own visual role: division framing, goal introductions, strategy labels, numbered activities, quotes, data callouts, imagery, and supporting notes.

  • Hierarchy: Distinct levels separated goals, strategies, and activities without relying on decorative styling.
  • Grid: Stable margins and content zones gave dense pages enough structure while allowing different content lengths.
  • Emphasis: Purple and blue established structure; yellow and orange created selective points of attention.
  • Continuity: Consistent headers, page numbers, section labels, and spacing helped readers stay oriented.
Figma board organizing the CDC strategic plan pages, design system, and layout analysis
Design system analysis. The document is organized as a connected system of pages, hierarchy, color, typography, and recurring components.

InDesign production

The layout system had to work on the densest pages, not just the cover.

In InDesign, I used page guides, text and image frames, repeatable spacing, page sequencing, and paragraph-style logic to keep the document consistent while allowing different sections to carry different information densities.

InDesign production view of the CDC strategic plan cover with guides and page thumbnails
Cover + opening system The cover established the title hierarchy, goal framing, icon language, cross-cutting strategies panel, and brand palette used throughout the document.
InDesign interior spread showing the CDC strategic plan page grid and paragraph styles
Interior page production Guides, page templates, paragraph styles, image zones, callouts, and numbered content patterns created consistency across information-heavy sections.

Design process

A four-step path from source content to production-ready publication.

Each step reduced ambiguity before the next: understand the content, establish the system, apply it consistently, then refine the publication as a complete document.

  1. 01

    Audit

    Identify the content hierarchy, repeated information types, audience needs, and sections that require stronger visual emphasis.

  2. 02

    Structure

    Establish the grid, typography, section framing, goal patterns, strategy labels, and reusable page modules.

  3. 03

    Apply

    Build the full publication, adapting the same system to summaries, lists, imagery, callouts, and detailed activity content.

  4. 04

    Refine

    Review page rhythm, alignment, spacing, hierarchy, consistency, and final PDF production across the document.

Portfolio Figma process board showing selected strategic plan pages, hierarchy analysis, typography, color, and final deliverables
Design reasoning made visible. The board summarizes the document audit, layout hierarchy, design language, and final-output logic in a format that can be reviewed quickly.

Final publication system

Each page solves a different content problem while staying inside the same visual language.

The repeated system supports both orientation and flexibility: overview pages can be visual and concise, while strategy pages can carry much denser reference content.

Strategic plan cover and opening overview page
Opening overviewVision, mission, goals, guiding principles, and cross-cutting strategies are organized for quick orientation.
Strategic plan page showing attributes, engagement criteria, organization, and cultural values
Organizational informationMultiple list types and information groups remain readable through consistent spacing and typographic levels.
Strategic plan goal page introducing Goal 1 and detailed strategy activities
Goal + strategy templateA strong goal banner and repeated activity numbering make dense content easier to scan and reference.
Strategic plan detailed strategy page with public safety imagery and campaign examples
Dense content with visual reliefStructured activity blocks, photography, and campaign imagery create pacing without breaking the information hierarchy.

End result

A strategic publication built for clarity, consistency, and reuse.

The value of the design is not a single decorative moment. It is the consistent structure that helps readers understand the Division’s priorities and navigate a complex document from beginning to end.

Clearer navigation

Repeated hierarchy and section framing help readers understand where they are and what level of information they are reading.

Scalable system

Reusable patterns accommodate short summaries, long activity lists, imagery, callouts, and supporting program content.

Production-ready

Consistent page architecture supports a polished document for digital PDF use, stakeholder review, and print-ready distribution.

Design perspective

Complex content becomes easier to use when the information structure drives the visual system.

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