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10 years simplifying complexity
A series of 10 lessons learned after helping EU-funded projects, NGOs and international organisations communicate complex information.
Lesson 9
Practical graphic design considers how communication materials will be used, updated and adapted after they’re delivered. It’s something we pay particular attention to at JQ&ROS, especially when working on reports, presentations and event materials that often evolve throughout a project.
We work with European organisations, associations and EU-funded projects, helping their communication teams manage complex content across different formats and channels. This often means thinking ahead about how designs can be updated and reused without unnecessary complications.
Through ten years of collaboration with our clients, we’ve come to appreciate how much these everyday considerations matter. From providing editable master files to developing flexible layouts and templates, our approach is shaped by how people actually work with the materials we create.
Design for the people who will use it
When starting a project, we usually think about the people who will read the report, attend the event or visit the website. But we also like to consider what happens behind the scenes and how the client’s team will work with the materials once they’re delivered. Content changes, presentations need updating and event materials often require last-minute adjustments. Having worked with communication teams for many years, we know how useful it can be to anticipate these situations. That’s why we try to understand how the materials will be used from the beginning, so we can choose formats and develop templates that fit the team’s everyday needs.
Think about what happens after delivery
Once a project is delivered, the materials often continue to evolve. A report might be updated the following year, a presentation adapted for a different audience or campaign graphics translated into several languages. We take this into account when developing the design, making sure that layouts and templates are flexible enough to accommodate new content without too much extra work. This is particularly relevant for organisations that regularly update their publications or produce materials in multiple languages.
Small details can make a big difference
Some of the details we pay attention to are quite small, but they can make everyday work much easier. Making sure a chart can be updated, a layout has room for additional content or a template is straightforward to use can save communication teams a lot of time. That’s also why we always provide our clients with the original, editable master files. From our experience working in Brussels, this isn’t always standard practice, but we believe clients should be able to update and reuse their materials whenever they need to. These details might go unnoticed when looking at the finished design, but they often make a real difference for the people working with it.
Flexibility is particularly important for European organisations
Many of the organisations we work with have teams and partners based in different countries, often producing communication materials in several languages. In EU-funded projects and European associations, the same visual identity may be used by different people across publications, events and digital platforms. We take these working environments into account when developing our designs, so materials can be adapted and reused without losing their visual consistency. It’s an important part of how we approach graphic design in Brussels.
The best solutions are not always the most complicated
We often find that the simplest solutions work best. A clear layout or a well-organised template can be more useful to a communication team than something unnecessarily complicated. When discussing a project with a client, we look at what makes the most sense for their content and how they plan to use it. Sometimes that means working with an existing format or making a few small adjustments rather than developing something entirely new. These decisions may seem minor, but they can make a real difference to how smoothly a project runs.
What ten years of collaboration have taught us
Working with organisations such as Ocean Energy Europe, WindEurope, the Environmental Coalition on Standards (ECOS), the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), the European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients’ Associations (EFA), ClientEarth, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) or the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has given us a good understanding of how different communication teams work. Each organisation has its own way of doing things, and we’ve become familiar with the last-minute changes, tight deadlines and unexpected requests that are often part of the process. This experience helps us approach new projects with a better understanding of what clients might need along the way. We like to keep things flexible, find practical solutions and make the whole process as straightforward as possible for everyone involved.
A lesson worth keeping
When we finish a project, we like knowing that our clients can continue working with the materials comfortably, whether they need to make a small update or adapt them for something new. It’s something we keep in mind throughout the design process, and one of the reasons we value long-term relationships with the organisations we work with.
Looking for design that works for your organisation?
At JQ&ROS, we help European organisations create reports, presentations, visual identities and communication materials that are designed for everyday use.
Discover our approach to visual communication
From publications and visual identities to websites and motion graphics, our work covers a wide range of communication needs. Explore how ten years of working with European organisations have shaped the way we approach each project and collaborate with our clients.
Related lessons
Continue exploring our series 10 Years Simplifying Complexity:
Data becomes powerful when it’s visual
Complex information should feel simple
Reports deserve more than layout
Good design starts before the visuals
Every communication channel should tell the same story
Motion makes complex ideas easier to understand
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is practical graphic design important?
Practical graphic design helps organisations create communication materials that are not only visually effective but also easy to update, adapt and reuse.
What makes a design easy to maintain?
Clear layouts, editable templates, consistent styles and well-organised files make it easier for communication teams to update materials without redesigning them.
Why should designers consider how materials will be used?
Understanding who will use a design and how it may change helps designers choose appropriate formats, structures and tools from the beginning.
How does practical graphic design benefit European organisations?
It helps teams working across different countries, languages and projects maintain clear communication while adapting materials to changing requirements.