Our latest news, opinions, insights and an initial glimpse into some recently launched projects.

Our latest news & insights 

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World bank

Human capital animation

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Swiss Re

Closing the protection gap

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Insurance Information Institute

Dynamic economics dashboard

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Digital toolkit

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Queen Mary University London

Research highways

We&#39;re incredibly excited to share some fantastic news: our innovative IDRIC Decarbonisation Online Visualisation Tool, developed for Heriot-Watt University, has been officially Shortlisted for the prestigious Creativepool Annual 2025! 

This recognition is a huge honor and a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team, as well as the impactful collaboration with IDRIC and Heriot-Watt University.

This project sits at the forefront of digital solutions for a sustainable future. The tool we developed plays a crucial role in visualising complex decarbonisation data, making it accessible and actionable for researchers and policymakers alike. It&#39;s a prime example of how thoughtful design and powerful technology can contribute to solving some of the world&#39;s most pressing environmental challenges.

Dive Deeper into the Project:
For those interested in the intricacies of this project and the challenges we overcame, we invite you to explore our dedicated case study:

Read the Full Case Study: <a href="https://soak.co.uk/our-work/visualising-industrial-decarbonisation">Visualising Industrial Decarbonisation</a>

Your Vote Can Make a Difference! Here’s how you can help us win:

<ol><li>Visit the shortlist here: https://creativepool.com/annual/2025/shortlist/</li><li>Scroll to find the ‘Web’ category </li><li>Locate Soak Digital</li><li>Click on the &quot;Vote Now&quot; button.</li><li>You&#39;ll need to be logged into Creativepool to cast your vote (it&#39;s quick and easy to create an account if you don&#39;t have one).</li><li>You can only vote once, so make it count!
Voting closes in just 13 days.</li></ol>

Thank you for your continued support. We truly appreciate you taking the time to vote for us!

Celebrating Innovation: Our IDRIC Decarbonisation Tool Shortlisted for Creativepool Annual 2025!

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We've Been Shortlisted!

What is a Portal?

Portals provide a centralised and personalised gateway to digital resources, streamlining access to information and enhancing user experience.

Portals are web-based platforms that bring together information from diverse sources in a unified way. They provide a single point of access to various applications, data, and services. A good portal is a personalised gateway to relevant digital resources.

Why are Portals Important?

Portals serve several crucial purposes:

<ul><li>Centralised Access: Portals simplify access to information and applications, reducing the need for users to navigate multiple systems.</li><li>Enhanced User Experience: Portals provide a personalised and consistent experience, improving user satisfaction.</li><li>Increased Productivity: Portals can streamline workflows and improve efficiency by providing quick access to relevant resources.</li><li>Improved Communication: Portals can facilitate communication and collaboration among users.</li><li>Data Integration: Portals integrate data and content from diverse sources, providing a holistic view of information.</li><li>Self-Service: Portals often empower users to perform tasks independently, reducing the burden on support staff.</li></ul>

Why Portals Need to be Designed Correctly:

A poorly designed portal can lead to frustration, inefficiency, and security risks. Proper design is crucial for:

<ul><li>Usability: A portal should be easy to navigate and use, with a clear and intuitive interface.</li><li>Information Architecture: Content should be organised logically and easy to find.</li><li>Personalisation: A portal should provide relevant and personalised content to each user.</li><li>Security: Access controls should be robust and protect sensitive information.</li><li>Performance: A portal should load quickly and perform reliably.</li><li>Accessibility: A portal should be accessible to users with disabilities.</li><li>Responsive Design: A portal must function correctly on all devices, such as mobile phones, tablets, and desktop computers.</li></ul>

A good Portal has:

<ul><li>Aggregation: Pulls together information from disparate systems.</li><li>Personalisation: Tailors content and functionality to individual users.</li><li>Single Sign-On (SSO): Allows users to access multiple applications with one set of credentials.</li><li>Content Management: Enables the creation and management of content.</li><li>Collaboration: Facilitates communication and collaboration among users.</li><li>Security: Controls access to sensitive information.</li></ul>

Does your business need a Portal?

Portals are used in various industries and applications:

Employee Portals (Intranets):

<ul><li>Provide access to company news, policies, benefits, and internal applications.</li><li>Facilitate communication and collaboration among employees.</li></ul>

Customer Portals:

<ul><li>Allow customers to manage accounts, track orders, access support, and view personalised offers.</li><li>Enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty.</li></ul>

Partner Portals:

<ul><li>Enable partners to access sales information, marketing materials, and support resources.</li><li>Facilitate collaboration and communication with partners.</li></ul>

Government Portals:

<ul><li>Provide citizens with access to government services, information, and resources.</li><li>Improve transparency and efficiency.</li></ul>

Educational Portals:

<ul><li>Provide students and faculty with access to course materials, grades, and administrative information.</li><li>Support online learning and communication.</li></ul>

Healthcare Portals:

<ul><li>Allow patients to access medical records, schedule appointments, and communicate with healthcare providers.</li><li>Improve patient engagement and care coordination.</li></ul>

E-commerce Portals:

<ul><li>These can be very large scale, and offer a wide range of vendors to sell their goods, and allow customers a single place to purchase many different goods.</li></ul>

To learn more about how Soak can support all of your portal requirements, email us at info@soak.co.uk. We&#39;d love to hear your ideas!

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Exploring The World of Digital Portals 

Objectivity &amp; Subjectivity in Design, written by Jon Bliss, Soak&#39;s Senior Designer &amp; Animator 

 A lot of times we will use the word &#39;design&#39; to describe the aesthetic of a project - the front-end, the look and feel - the fonts and the frills.

We will also say that &#39;design is subjective&#39; - a seemingly self-evident truth, simply meaning that every individual has their own aesthetic preferences. In effect, the proverbial horse being led to water - whether the horse drinks or not is a matter of taste.

However, I&#39;m not sure this is true.

Firstly (and slightly as an aside), in this industry I think &#39;design&#39; is far more useful as a verb. It is a set of decisions that are made in order to achieve a common goal. So the first issue is that by making &#39;design&#39; mean &#39;only the aesthetics&#39; we do a great disservice to all other decisions made on a project. For example - copy is written with a purpose in mind, as is code. Therefore, both of these are also &#39;design&#39; processes.

Secondly, it implies that the choice of aesthetic for a project is something rooted in personal preference - rather than a conscious choice made in order to achieve a specific goal.

Thirdly, similar to the previous - it implies that the audience&#39;s reaction to an aesthetic is also ultimately up to their personal preferences. But this is what I think is most untrue, and sometimes where we let ourselves down.

What the audience is actually reacting to (and what we should be considering as designers) is whether the aesthetic is suitable for the situation. And - there usually won’t be a reaction at all, unless it’s wildly inappropriate. This still sounds subjective, but my belief is that it’s possible to say that a given aesthetic is or isn’t objectively suitable for a given situation. 

What makes an aesthetic objectively suitable or unsuitable for a given situation is based on a cultural consensus. For example - we know that comic sans is regarded as a ‘childish’ font, and much maligned. So if we imagine a logo for a funeral home written in comic sans - the majority of people will look at it and feel that this is somehow ‘wrong’. We may say that this is still a subjective reaction, because some people may think that it’s brilliant - however the important factor is the reaction of the majority.

This is how a subjective opinion becomes, en masse, an objective truth - the cultural consensus. You probably shouldn’t use comic sans for your funeral home logo.

However - the cultural consensus only exists at a given point in time. This can be observed quite easily in wild changes of fashion, music, art etc. that happen, even within closed systems. Something new will appear, and either gradually or bombastically, the cultural consensus will shift.

But, logically - if there is an objectively correct way to present something at a given point in time, then where do these shifts even come from, and why do we tolerate them?
I think the answer to this is simply that we’re not creatures of logic.

Several years ago, I was on a website project which had the lofty goal of creating ‘the objective best’ website theme. The theory was thus: by using data to analyse the way people interacted with websites (eye tracking, mouse tracking, ideal length of copy and so on), it would be possible to build pages that were ‘perfectly’ optimised towards getting users to convert. This theory then extended into things like the branding, wherein only certain colour combinations that gave optimal contrast ratios would be permitted on the website.

It was researched, it was planned, and it was built according to those principles. It was, in short, objectively ideal in every way.

The problem was, nobody wanted it.

The end product looked like a website, felt like a website, and was - by all measurable metrics of success - perfectly optimised. But people just didn’t like it.

There was something missing - which, when pressed, people could only describe as a ‘human’ element.

So this is where we run into a snag. We want to say that something can be objectively correct - but here, something objectively correct is being rejected by the majority - making it objectively wrong.

And we’re also finding that the thing that would fix it - the addition of a ‘human’ element that makes it feel ‘right’ - would amount to an arbitrary change that is, by definition, the objectively wrong thing to do. So we have to say that our design is objectively wrong precisely because it is objectively right.

Can this be possible? We have to conclude - yes. This is where two wrongs make a right.

It is possible to forget sometimes that we are designing for human beings, and as humans we crave connections to each other. In our pattern-recognising brains - the break in the logical flow, the flaw in pattern - can be the thing that stands out and appeals. It says ‘a human was here’.

Sometimes graphic design (typography) in particular is referred to as ‘the invisible art’ - i.e. if you notice it, you’re allegedly not doing it right. But I would say that there is value in leaving a footprint in the snow. I have, for example, worked with brands who, after user research, have chosen the brand name that focus groups liked the least -because the name gave people a reaction. We all know the Oscar Wilde quote. 

To me, this is also the point where creativity exists. It’s the point that’s wrong, that feels right.

This is where it’s important to remember that whatever design we create also has an original goal that still needs to be fulfilled. A design without a goal is no design at all - and if we forget this, then we run the risk of creating something entirely of style - devoid of substance. 

So the job of creating engaging, human-feeling design becomes finding the sweet spot at which the goal is objectively fulfilled - within a framework that is itself somehow imperfect.

So how can I, as a logic-loving designer, make good designs - how do I make my designs right? Simply - I just do them wrong.

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Two Wrongs Make a Right

What is a Dashboard?

Dashboards transform raw data into actionable insights, empowering users to make informed decisions and drive better outcomes.

A dashboard is a visual display of key performance indicators (KPIs) and other relevant data points, designed to provide a quick and easy-to-understand overview of a specific process, system, or business activity. A Dashboard will typically aggregate data from multiple sources and present it in a concise, organised, and often interactive format.

Why are Dashboards Important?
Dashboards play a crucial role in modern data-driven decision-making for several reasons:

<ul><li>Improved Visibility: Dashboards provide a centralised view of critical information, eliminating the need to sift through multiple reports or systems.</li><li>Faster Decision-Making: By presenting data in a clear and concise format, dashboards enable users to quickly identify trends, patterns, and anomalies.</li><li>Enhanced Monitoring: They facilitate continuous monitoring of performance, allowing for timely intervention when necessary.</li><li>Increased Efficiency: Dashboards automate data aggregation and visualisation, freeing up time for analysis and action.</li><li>Better Communication: Dashboards provide a common understanding of performance across teams and departments.</li><li>Goal Tracking: Dashboards are excellent tools for tracking progress toward specific goals and objectives.</li></ul>

Why Dashboards Need to be Designed Correctly:
A poorly designed dashboard can be counterproductive, leading to confusion, misinterpretation, and poor decision-making. 
Here&#39;s why proper design is essential:

<ul><li>Clarity and Simplicity: Overcrowded or overly complex dashboards can overwhelm users and obscure important information.</li><li>Relevant Metrics: Including irrelevant or misleading metrics can distract users and lead to incorrect conclusions.</li><li>Data Accuracy: Inaccurate or outdated data renders the dashboard useless.</li><li>Effective Visualisations: Using inappropriate chart types or colour schemes can make it difficult to interpret the data.</li><li>User Experience (UX): A poor user interface can make it difficult to navigate and interact with the dashboard.</li><li>Context: Data without context is meaningless. The dashboard needs to supply the correct context for the information it is displaying.</li></ul>

A good Dashboard has:

<ul><li>Visual Representation: Uses charts, graphs, tables, gauges, and other elements that are visually immediate, and easy to parse. </li><li>Real-Time or Near Real-Time data: Often updates automatically to reflect current data.</li><li>Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Highlights the most critical metrics for monitoring performance.</li><li>Customisability: Allows users to tailor the display to their specific needs.</li><li>Actionable Insights: Provides information that enables users to make informed decisions.</li></ul>

Does your business need a Dashboard?

Dashboards are used across a wide range of industries and applications:

Business

<ul><li>Sales dashboards: Track sales performance, revenue, and customer acquisition.</li><li>Marketing dashboards: Monitor website traffic, social media engagement, and campaign performance.</li><li>Financial dashboards: Track revenue, expenses, and profitability.</li><li>Project management dashboards: Monitor project progress, deadlines, and resource allocation.</li></ul>

Healthcare:

<ul><li>Patient dashboards: Track patient vital signs, medication adherence, and treatment progress.</li><li>Hospital dashboards: Monitor bed occupancy, patient wait times, and staff performance.</li></ul>

Manufacturing:

<ul><li>Production dashboards: Track production output, efficiency, and quality.</li><li>Inventory dashboards: Monitor stock levels, order fulfilment, and supply chain performance.</li></ul>

IT:

<ul><li>Network dashboards: Monitor network performance, server uptime, and security threats.</li><li>Help desk dashboards: Track ticket resolution times, customer satisfaction, and support team performance.</li></ul>

Education:

<ul><li>Student performance dashboards: Monitor student grades, attendance, and progress.</li><li>School administration dashboards: Monitor attendance rates, resource allocation, and budget tracking.</li></ul>

Transportation:

<ul><li>Logistics dashboards: Monitor delivery routes, vehicle locations, and shipment status.</li><li>Traffic dashboards: Monitor traffic flow, congestion, and incident reports.</li></ul>

To learn more about how Soak can support all of your dashboard requirements, email us at info@soak.co.uk. We&#39;d love to hear your ideas!

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A Deep Dive into Dashboards

Effective data visualisation is not just about presenting data; it&#39;s about telling a story. 
By carefully selecting the right visualisations and framing the data in a compelling narrative, data visualisation designers can help us understand the significance of the data and its implications for the real world.

At Soak, we transform raw data into meaningful and impactful visuals, utilising the key themes of storytelling.

Clarity, Simplicity and Accuracy:
Prioritising the primary aim of any data visualisation project is key; what story are we telling? 

We interrogate, clean, transform and model data to reveal information, support decision-making, and inform conclusions. By using a foundation of data integrity, data visualisations should accurately reflect the core themes and messages behind the raw data. 

Innovation, Creativity and Narrative:
Working with our clients, we help to establish the right personal style and narrative that reflects their brand and voice. Once their style and creative direction is found, we challenge conventional approaches and break boundaries. Our carefully crafted visualisations and narratives communicate a more impactful and memorable way of sharing information.

These themes are interconnected and work together to create effective and impactful data visualisations. By adhering to these principles, you can ensure that your visualisations are not only visually appealing but also informative, insightful, and trustworthy.

To learn more about how Soak can support all of your data visualisation requirements, email us at info@soak.co.uk. We&#39;d love to hear your ideas!

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Data Visualisation: The Key Themes of Storytelling

Strategy and Insights are the twin pillars of successful design projects. Together they provide the foundation for creating meaningful and impactful experiences that resonate with users and achieve business goals.

At Soak, we help define the technologies, processes, people, and rules to leverage the power of your information assets. Throughout the strategy phase of any of our projects, we blend experience, creativity, and a deep understanding of technology to define and improve your digital footprint.

<h4>Why Strategy Matters</h4>

Extensive research, in-depth analysis, and the careful planning of resources ensure strong foundations and smooth delivery. This is Strategy. 
Focus: Strategy helps define the project&#39;s scope, objectives, and target audience, ensuring the project team are all working toward a clear goal.
Decision-making: Defining the core design framework for establishing our ideas and how they will be expressed visually.
Innovation: Strategy encourages thinking beyond the obvious and exploring new possibilities. Original thinking that brings products and services to life, clearly articulating our vision to all stakeholders.

<h4>Why Insights Matter</h4>

Insights are the combination of our own experiences, and the experiences of others. Being able to understand ideas from another person’s perspective not only helps to elevate the user experience, but is a foundation for new ideas and innovations.

<ul><li>Empathy: Empathy helps designers understand users&#39; needs, motivations, and behaviors. This is crucial for creating products and experiences that are truly user-centered.</li><li>Validation: We validate design decisions and ensure that solutions are aligned with user expectations and preferences.</li><li>Innovation: Insights can reveal hidden opportunities and inspire new ideas. They can challenge assumptions and lead to unexpected breakthroughs.</li><li>Communication: When we see things from a stakeholder’s perspective, we can communicate effectively and build support for design decisions.</li></ul>

Strategy provides the &quot;why&quot;, and Insights provide the &quot;how&quot; of a digital design project. 
When combined, they are a powerful creative force that drives the development of meaningful, impactful, and original experiences.

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The Power of Strategy and Insights in Digital Design Projects

Property Data, the UK’s number one for residential data, asked Soak to support their latest marketing campaign for 2025. 

Working to support their current brand, we collaborated to develop a refreshed style and messaging, using Property Data’s key statistics and user metrics. 

We unpinned new marketing collateral, including; animated campaign ads, emails, and press ads. 

Our mission was to build upon their existing brand foundation, injecting a fresh and dynamic style while ensuring the core messaging remained impactful and clear. By analysing Property Data’s key statistics and user metrics, we crafted a narrative that showcased their unparalleled expertise and value proposition. 

This data-driven approach enabled us to create compelling content that directly addressed the needs of their customers. 

The campaign’s execution encompassed a diverse range of marketing collateral, each designed to capture attention and drive engagement. 
We developed captivating animated campaign ads, designed to be visually engaging and easily digestible, ensuring they performed well across various digital platforms. Designing targeted email campaigns, delivering key messages and producing impactful press ads that were strategically placed across key publications to maximise reach and visibility within the property industry.

A central theme of the campaign was to underscore Property Data’s remarkable eight-year track record of success and their undisputed position as the market leader. By highlighting their longevity and expertise, we aimed to build trust and credibility, ultimately driving increased awareness and engagement. Most importantly, the campaign was designed to translate this heightened interest into tangible results, specifically an increase in subscriptions to their invaluable service. 

This strategic approach ensured that Property Data’s marketing efforts not only resonated with their audience but also delivered a significant return on investment.

Big Data, Big Results! A dedicated campaign to celebrate 8 years of success.

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A Campaign Driven By Data

<h3>The Enduring Importance of Corporate Reporting</h3>

Corporate reporting has always played a crucial role in fostering trust and accountability. Regardless of the industry, its core objectives remain the same:

<h4>Transparency and Trust</h4>

Open and honest communication establishes credibility with investors, shareholders, customers, employees, and the wider public. It demonstrates a company&#39;s commitment to accountability and ethical practices.

<h4>Informed Decision-Making</h4>

Stakeholders depend on robust reporting to make critical decisions about investments, partnerships, and engagement. High-quality reports empower them with the insights they need to act with confidence.

<h4>Improved Organisational Performance</h4>

Preparing detailed reports prompts companies to reflect critically on their performance. This self-evaluation helps identify areas for improvement, set measurable goals, and drive growth.

<h4>Risk Mitigation and Compliance</h4>

Transparent reporting ensures adherence to regulations, reduces legal and financial risks, and helps companies address challenges proactively.

<h4>Enhanced Reputation</h4>

Companies known for robust reporting practices are viewed more favourably by the public. A strong reporting culture bolsters brand perception and attracts top talent and loyal customers.
In today&#39;s hyper-connected world, these fundamentals are more relevant than ever—but how they&#39;re delivered must adapt to meet modern expectations.

<h3>Why Digitally Driven Reporting Is the Way Forward</h3>

Digital reporting represents a revolutionary shift in how companies share information. By leveraging advanced technology, businesses can unlock a suite of benefits that far surpass the limitations of traditional paper-based or static reporting methods:

<h4>Data-Driven Insights</h4>

Modern digital platforms allow organisations to integrate data from multiple sources, enabling a richer and more dynamic analysis. These platforms can offer stakeholders access to real-time data, trends, and actionable insights beyond traditional reports&#39; static tables and charts. Interactive dashboards, for example, enable users to explore data on their terms, identifying key trends and opportunities.

<h4>Enhanced Accessibility</h4>

Digital reports can be accessed anywhere, anytime, and on any device. This seamless accessibility ensures that stakeholders have critical information at their fingertips, whether they&#39;re in the office, at home, or on the move. Additionally, instant sharing capabilities make it easier for reports to reach a global audience without delays.

<h4>Personalised and Interactive Experiences</h4>

Unlike traditional formats, digital reports can be tailored to meet diverse stakeholder groups&#39; specific needs and preferences. Dynamic content, such as interactive charts, clickable sections, and customisable views, allows users to engage with the information in a meaningful way. This personalisation fosters deeper engagement and understanding, making the reporting process more impactful.

<h4>Sustainability and Environmental Responsibility</h4>

The shift to digital reporting significantly reduces paper consumption, contributing to a company&#39;s sustainability goals. In an era where environmental stewardship is a key focus for stakeholders, adopting paperless reporting practices benefits the planet and enhances a company&#39;s reputation as a socially responsible organisation.

<h4>Future-Proofing for the Digital Age</h4>

As technology continues to evolve, so do stakeholder expectations. Companies that embrace digital reporting position themselves as innovators, capable of adapting to change and staying ahead of industry trends. This agility is essential in maintaining relevance and competitiveness in an increasingly digital world.

<h4>The Strategic Imperative of Digital Reporting</h4>

Digital corporate reporting isn&#39;t just a tool—it&#39;s a strategic imperative for companies looking to thrive in the 21st century. By harnessing the power of technology, businesses can foster stronger stakeholder relationships, make better decisions, and demonstrate their commitment to innovation and sustainability.

<h4>Key Takeaways for Companies Embracing Digital Reporting:</h4>

Start with Stakeholder Needs: Tailor digital reports to address the specific concerns and interests of your stakeholders. Personalisation adds significant value to the reporting experience.
Invest in Technology: Adopt robust reporting platforms that enable real-time data integration, interactive visuals, and seamless accessibility.
Focus on Sustainability: Highlight the environmental benefits of digital reporting as part of your company&#39;s broader sustainability strategy.
Communicate Dynamically: Move away from static formats and embrace storytelling through interactive, engaging content.

In today&#39;s ever-evolving digital realm, the ability to communicate effectively and transparently with stakeholders is no longer optional—it&#39;s a key driver of business success. Companies prioritising digital reporting will stay ahead of the curve, build lasting trust, enhance their brand, and contribute to a more sustainable future.

In the fast-paced digital age, the way businesses and organisations communicate with stakeholders is evolving at breakneck speed. 

Traditional corporate reporting, once confined to static PDF documents or bulky annual reports, is transforming into a dynamic, data-driven process powered by digital technology. This shift is more than just a trend—it&#39;s a necessity for businesses aiming to remain competitive, transparent, and forward-thinking in a constantly changing world.

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Corporate Reporting: Why Digital is the Future

The World Bank

The summit was in response to close engagements with governments across Sub-Saharan Africa on the need to highlight the vital role of human capital in economic growth. It was also the first Human Capital Summit at a Heads of States level in Africa. 

Sub-Saharan Africa entered the last decade with significant deficits in human capital (the knowledge, skills, and health that people accumulate over their lives). The region’s average Human Capital Index (HCI) was the lowest across all the world’s regions, with a significant proportion of African countries at the bottom of the HCI.

The animation, ahead of the keynote speaker, was played at the start of the final day and uses a narrative centred around three core themes: Economic Growth, Resilient Systems and Social Cohesion. 

Data visualisation and storytelling are used throughout the sequence to emphasise and clarify important facts and figures that would resonate with the audience of Heads of State, Leaders, and Policymakers. In a first of its kind data-based and policy integrated storytelling, the innovative approach was very well received by online and in-person viewers.

The World Bank asked us to produce a data-driven animation for The Africa Human Capital Heads of State Summit held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on the 25th - 26th of July 2023.

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The financial burden of such events is enormous, but despite this threat, many people and businesses remain uninsured, leaving them vulnerable when a natural catastrophe strikes.

Swiss RE asked us to develop an interactive data tool illustrating the protection gap and losses from various natural disasters across five continents and twelve countries.

The interface centres around a stylised (mapbox) 3D globe. Clicking on regions and countries reveals the protection gap and total economic losses over the last ten years with the option to deep-dive into more in-depth analysis.

The fully integrated tool is a perfect example of how information can be more accessible, understandable and interesting using interactive data visualisation and information design.

Catastrophes such as hurricanes, earthquakes, floods and winter storms have become more intense and frequent, threatening people and economies worldwide.

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World Wide Fund for Nature

The new toolkit underpins an extensive report that provides the first synthesis and assessment of the gendered dynamics within the global illegal wildlife trade (IWT). It looks at gender-informed research, field evidence and concepts relating to poaching, trafficking and consumption of wildlife products, and international governance and policy.

A suite of structured, multilingual lessons packed with multi-media content, interactive scenarios and knowledge tests enables practitioners to bring gender analysis into their programmes and policies systematically and to combat illegal wildlife trade.

The campaign website gives users an overview of the program and provides a natural gateway into the new digital toolkit.

We have been working with The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to design and develop a new eLearning toolkit to educate policymakers, practitioners and academics about gender dynamics within the illegal wildlife trade.

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The design, technical and maintenance considerations for the project were several fold.

From a design perspective there was very little direction provided beyond needing to establish a data visualisation style that complimented the Triple-I branding and brand assets. We needed to identify appropriate styles to display the sets of time series data into a meaningful layout, enabling comparison within relevant data groups.

From a technical perspective we had to develop the dashboard as a standalone portable JS based application so it could be provided as a code bundle and embedded into Triple-I’s existing infrastructure with minimal effort.

Soak has recently been working with the eminently trusted Insurance Information Institute (iii.org) to design and develop a dynamic Economics dashboard.

Triple-I’s Insurance Economics Dashboard provides data-driven insight into the performance of the insurance industry, looking at historical trends and the key economic drivers for current and upcoming years. Soak worked with senior Triple-I stakeholders and economists to visualise and bring to life the data in a compelling and engaging way.

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Queen Mary University of London

The programme looks to raise awareness by:

<ul><li>Focusing on the big questions that affect us all: the sustainability of the planet, our digital future, people’s health and wellbeing, communication, creativity and culture</li><li>Delivering real-world impact: Through investment in the research and industrial ecosystem on and around our campuses, our global outlook and a passion for partnership</li><li>Harnessing the power of collaboration, partnership and our uniquely diverse and inclusive community with students and staff from more than 170 countries around the world</li></ul>

To support the research, we’ve designed and developed a data tool that allows users to explore the global impact of Queen Mary’s research.

The tool uses a map-based UI, allowing users to navigate several highway-specific case studies and the impact locations using a single, fluid interface.

Additional case studies can be added/managed using the underlying CMS, and the tool has been seamlessly integrated into the Queen Mary website.

Queen Mary’s U is a leading, research-intensive university. Their Research Highways programme brings this ethos to life perfectly. Combining expertise across disciplines, designed to tackle some of society’s biggest challenges, grasp new opportunities and transform lives across the globe.