Executive Leadership Seminars

Clarifying complex ideas into a clear, cohesive publication

The Executive Leadership Seminars (EXL) program is part of the Aspen Institute’s Leadership Division, supporting senior leaders as they reflect, learn, and engage with complex global issues. The team needed a publication that could communicate the depth of the program clearly and credibly — without overwhelming the reader.

The challenge wasn’t a lack of content. It was abundance. Ideas, themes, and priorities were all present, but needed structure, hierarchy, and visual clarity to come together in a meaningful way.

The work

I partnered closely with the EXL leadership team to design an overview publication that could serve multiple purposes: orient new audiences, support internal conversations, and reflect the caliber of the program itself.

My role was not simply to design pages, but to help clarify what the publication needed to do — and what could be left unsaid.

Through careful listening, thoughtful questioning, and visual interpretation, I helped translate layered ideas into a cohesive narrative supported by restrained, confident design.

The approach

The process began with conversation, not layout. By creating space for clarity before decisions were made, we were able to surface what mattered most — and let that guide the structure of the piece.

From there, I developed a visual system that balanced sophistication with accessibility, allowing the content to breathe while maintaining a strong editorial presence. Typography, pacing, and imagery worked together to support the material rather than compete with it.

Throughout the process, feedback was guided and focused, helping the team respond with confidence rather than uncertainty.

The result

The finished publication feels grounded, intentional, and complete — a piece that reflects the seriousness of the work without feeling dense or academic.

The team shared that the process itself brought clarity, helping them articulate their goals more clearly and see the program through a sharper lens. The final piece now functions as both a communications tool and a point of internal alignment.

← Back to portfolio