Illustrations for UN Women Asia-Pacific
UN Women Asia-Pacific published a feature story titled “More Women Leaders Are Needed in Waste Management,” addressing the lack of female leadership in the waste management sector across South and Southeast Asia.
The article highlights inspiring women working in the field, the challenges they face, and why gender-inclusive leadership is critical for sustainable waste management systems.
To support the storytelling and increase engagement, UN Women required illustration work that could visually communicate the message while remaining aligned with their brand identity and advocacy tone.
Year
2021
Client
UN Women Asia-Pacific (via Sri Lanka)
The Challenge
Create clear, meaningful illustrations that enhance a sensitive, gender-focused narrative.
Maintain UN Women’s visual standards, colour guidelines, and tone.
Represent women in waste management in a respectful and empowering way.
Ensure illustrations are culturally accurate and relevant to the Asia-Pacific region.
Deliver visuals that work seamlessly with the article’s layout and message.
Our Role
In 2021, our founder was commissioned to create the full illustration package for the feature. This included:
Primary editorial illustration for the article header
Supporting visual elements
A style that combined simplicity, clarity, and advocacy-focused design
Characters that accurately represent women leaders in waste management roles
Colour palettes aligned with UN Women’s guidelines
The focus was on creating visuals that added depth and emotional connection without distracting from the message.
Illustration Approach
a. Tone & Style
The design direction was built on three principles:
Empowerment – Women depicted in leadership roles, not stereotypes.
Clarity – Clean lines, simple forms, and minimal clutter to match editorial tone.
Advocacy Visuals – Symbolic elements that reinforce gender equality and sustainability.
b. Visual Themes
Women actively leading teams or processes
Elements representing recycling, waste sorting, and community systems
Inclusive and culturally relevant facial features, clothing, and environments
Colours inspired by UN Women’s brand blue, with earthy tones for waste-management context
c. Process
Researching the article content and the women featured
Sketching concepts to find a balanced tone
Digitally refining illustrations for publication
Coordinating with the editorial team to ensure alignment with layout and messaging
Final Deliverables
Editorial Header Illustration
Secondary visual elements for throughout the article
Optimized files for web publishing (high-resolution PNG/SVG)
A cohesive visual narrative that supports the written content
The final illustrations helped the story visually stand out while still maintaining the seriousness and professionalism required for the topic.
Impact
This project represents the intersection of:
Design with purpose
Social impact
Gender advocacy
Environmental sustainability
It showcases the founder’s ability to translate complex social issues into effective visuals — an approach that continues to influence Studio Unbound’s design philosophy today.
Why This Project Matters
The article gained strong engagement on UN Women’s platforms due to its combination of storytelling and visual clarity.
The illustrations enhanced readability and emotional resonance, making the content more accessible to a wider audience.
The visual work became part of the ongoing discourse promoting women’s leadership, sustainable waste systems, and gender equality across the region.