Challenge

Following a research study on men's shaving habits in the UK, the client sought a visually engaging and impactful output to share findings with their wider organisation. They wanted a magazine or infographic-style format instead of a traditional report, but the brief remained open-ended. With tight turnaround times, the challenge was to create a high-quality, well-structured design while managing content that evolved significantly throughout the process.

Approach

Given the need for rapid collaboration, we chose Canva as the primary design tool. This allowed for efficient teamwork, quick iterations, and direct integration with Issuu for seamless online publishing. Initially, both magazine and infographic formats were explored, with existing templates reviewed to streamline decision-making. The magazine format was selected due to its ability to balance narrative storytelling with data visualisation.

I worked closely with a team member to divide the workload evenly. Within half a day, we developed a first draft of the style direction, which was enthusiastically received. The initial full version was completed within another half day, ensuring we met the tight deadline. However, as the client reviewed the content in the magazine format, they refined and reshaped significant portions, requiring multiple iterations. The flexibility of Canva allowed us to quickly adjust layouts to accommodate content changes while maintaining a cohesive, polished design.

To maximise impact, we decided early on that the magazine would be delivered as a downloadable PDF while also being hosted on Issuu for a more interactive experience. Canva’s integration with Issuu ensured that any last-minute changes could be updated and published effortlessly.

Result

Despite the evolving content and shifting deadlines, the final magazine was delivered ahead of schedule, exceeding expectations. The dynamic, well-structured format effectively brought the research findings to life, making them more engaging and accessible for internal stakeholders. This project also reinforced Canva’s efficiency for high-speed, collaborative projects, leading to future internal reports and similar publications being designed on the platform.