Visualising the Impact of Sovereign Debt
Editorial illustration and animation for a campaign on debt, default and human rights
When countries face unsustainable sovereign debt, the consequences can be severe—and the options, limited. Unlike private companies, governments can’t declare bankruptcy. Instead, they often resort to raising taxes, cutting public spending, or borrowing more—measures that frequently delay default but deeply impact everyday lives, particularly the rights and wellbeing of women and marginalised communities.
We developed a bold editorial illustration style to help explain these complex dynamics. Built around strong visual metaphors, the imagery was designed to work both within animation and as standalone campaign assets—extending the life, reach and clarity of the message across multiple platforms.
The animation was also produced in Arabic, Hindi, Portuguese and Spanish to ensure a wide reach.
