Communication & Information Design

Helping organizations communicate complex information with clarity.

I design publications, reports, information systems and digital experiences that transform complex ideas into communication people can understand, trust and act upon.

Communication Strategy Editorial Design Information Design Data Visualization Knowledge Management
View Selected Work
Trusted by organizations working across Africa and beyond
Introduction

Communication is more than design.

Every organization creates knowledge.

  • Research findings
  • Programme data
  • Technical reports
  • Policy recommendations
  • Stories from the field
  • Operational learning

The challenge isn't producing this information. It's making it understandable.

For more than a decade, I've worked with humanitarian organizations, development partners, governments and private sector organizations to transform complex information into clear communication products that support learning, collaboration and decision-making.

Whether designing an annual report, developing a technical publication, building an information dashboard or creating a donor visibility package, my work begins with one question:

How can this be understood more easily?

About Benson
Portrait of Benson Wanjama

I've always been drawn to creating.

Long before I became a communications consultant, I spent my time drawing, sketching and building with my hands. Design came naturally — not because of software, but because I enjoyed creating.

My early career in Kenya's advertising industry taught me how to communicate visually, think strategically and design with an audience in mind. It was there that I learned that good design isn't simply about aesthetics — it's about communicating the right message to the right people.

That understanding deepened when I joined the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Somalia.

For the first time, I witnessed how communication products could directly influence humanitarian decisions affecting thousands of people. Maps, displacement dashboards, information products and visual reports were no longer just documents — they became tools that helped governments, UN agencies and humanitarian partners understand rapidly changing situations, allocate resources and plan emergency responses.

That experience fundamentally changed how I viewed design. Since then, my work has focused on one principle:

Making complex information clear, accessible and actionable.

Today I help organizations transform research, programme data, technical reports and institutional knowledge into communication products that people can understand, trust and use to make better decisions.

My Approach

My Philosophy

I don't believe good design begins with colour palettes or typography.

It begins with understanding.

Understanding the audience. Understanding the information. Understanding the decisions that communication is meant to support.

Beautiful communication means very little if people cannot understand it.

Every project I undertake follows the same belief:

Clarity creates understanding. Understanding enables action.

My Design Principles

01
Clarity over complexity

Complex information should never feel complicated. My goal is always to reduce cognitive load while preserving meaning.

02
Structure before style

Strong communication begins with organizing information — not decorating it. Visual hierarchy, information architecture and logical flow always come before visual styling.

03
Design serves communication

Design exists to strengthen understanding. Every visual element should have a purpose.

04
Simplicity requires intention

Simple communication is rarely accidental. It requires careful thinking, editing and refinement.

05
Every audience deserves clarity

Whether communicating with donors, programme teams, government officials or communities, information should always be accessible.

What I Do

What I Do

01
Communication Strategy

Helping organizations communicate consistently across programmes, campaigns and institutional communications.

Communication strategiesMessaging frameworksCommunication planningCampaign supportDonor visibilityKnowledge products
02
Editorial & Publication Design

Designing publication systems that communicate technical information clearly.

Annual reportsPolicy briefsTechnical reportsCase studiesGuidelinesToolkitsResearch reportsBooksTraining manualsConference reports
03
Information Design

Transforming complex concepts into understandable visual communication.

InfographicsProcess diagramsConcept illustrationsTheory of ChangeJourney mapsFramework visualizationIconsFlow diagrams
04
Data Visualization

Turning data into meaningful insights.

DashboardsChartsMapsGISInteractive graphicsStatistical visualizationProgramme monitoring visuals
05
Knowledge Management

Helping organizations capture and communicate learning.

Learning productsKnowledge repositoriesSuccess storiesLessons learnedInternal documentationTemplatesCommunication workflows
06
Digital Communications

Designing digital communication experiences.

WebsitesLanding pagesSocial media systemsDigital campaignsEmail communicationsPresentation systems
07
Photography & Visual Storytelling

Capturing authentic stories from the field.

Programme documentationPortrait photographyField photographyPhoto editingVisual storytelling
Selected Work

Every project solves a communication problem.

Rather than showcasing visuals alone, each project explains the challenge, the approach, and the outcome.

Portfolio

Get the portfolio

Leave your email and I'll unlock the download — a look at recent publication, information design and data visualization work.

Experience

Experience

Over the past decade I've worked across advertising, digital marketing, humanitarian communications and information design.

Today my work spans communication strategy, publication design, editorial systems, data visualization, knowledge management, donor visibility and digital communications for organizations operating across Africa.

Humanitarian Response International Development Public Health Education Food Security Agriculture Nutrition Climate Governance Private Sector Technology
Process

Every project follows a structured process.

01
Discover

Understanding the audience, objectives and communication challenge.

02
Research

Reviewing content, data and existing materials.

03
Structure

Developing information architecture and communication hierarchy.

04
Design

Creating visual systems that prioritize understanding.

05
Review

Collaborative refinement through structured feedback.

06
Deliver

Providing publication-ready outputs for print and digital use.

Testimonials

Trusted by organizations working across Africa.

Insights

Insights

Notes on publication design, communication strategy and information design, organized by topic.

New articles are added here as they're published — check back soon.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

I primarily collaborate with humanitarian organizations, NGOs, development agencies, research institutions and mission-driven organizations seeking to improve how they communicate complex information.
No. My work extends beyond graphic design to include communication strategy, information architecture, publication systems, editorial design and knowledge management.
I primarily work with Adobe Creative Cloud, Figma, WordPress, GIS tools and AI-assisted creative workflows. However, my process is software-independent — the focus is always on solving communication challenges rather than using a particular tool.
Yes. I work with organizations across Africa and internationally through fully remote or hybrid collaboration.
Contact

Let's create communication people understand.

Whether you're developing a flagship publication, technical report, annual report, information system or communication strategy, I'd be happy to discuss your project.

Location Nairobi, Kenya