PRIDE AND POVERTY
A Study of the Economic Challenges in the LGBTQ+ Community | Editorial Design
Outhouse LGBTQ+ Centre commissioned Studio Kosmos to design Pride and Poverty, a research-driven advocacy report exploring the relationship between poverty and LGBTQ+ experiences in Ireland.
Funded by EAPN Ireland and TASC, the publication challenges long-standing assumptions around financial security within LGBTQ+ communities, highlighting lived experiences of inequality, housing insecurity and systemic barriers.
The project included the design of both a full research report and a key findings booklet for both print and digital distribution.
Funded by EAPN Ireland and TASC, the publication challenges long-standing assumptions around financial security within LGBTQ+ communities, highlighting lived experiences of inequality, housing insecurity and systemic barriers.
The project included the design of both a full research report and a key findings booklet for both print and digital distribution.
Challenges
The report brought together extensive research, lived experiences, and policy recommendations that needed to remain accessible to multiple audiences, including advocacy groups, policymakers, researchers, and the general public.
The challenge was to create a publication that communicated complex information clearly while maintaining a human and respectful tone throughout.
The challenge was to create a publication that communicated complex information clearly while maintaining a human and respectful tone throughout.
Our Approach
Studio Kosmos approached the project through two interconnected systems: editorial structure and visual language.
Editorial Design
We developed a structured editorial system using hierarchy, thoughtful typesetting and pacing to guide readers through long-form content and support engagement with complex research findings.
Careful attention to navigation, readability and the presentation of key information helped create a clear and consistent reading experience across both print and digital formats.
We developed a structured editorial system using hierarchy, thoughtful typesetting and pacing to guide readers through long-form content and support engagement with complex research findings.
Careful attention to navigation, readability and the presentation of key information helped create a clear and consistent reading experience across both print and digital formats.
Key findings printed booklet
Visual Language
The visual approach focused on developing a more human and grounded visual language throughout the publication. Traditional financial imagery and economic iconography felt too impersonal for the themes explored in the report, while the use of community photography raised concerns around privacy and sensitivity.
In response, we developed a series of digital collage compositions using Outhouse’s brand colours alongside selected imagery and symbolic elements. More traditional financial symbols and graphic elements were used selectively, where they supported the communication of specific information without dominating the overall visual approach.
In response, we developed a series of digital collage compositions using Outhouse’s brand colours alongside selected imagery and symbolic elements. More traditional financial symbols and graphic elements were used selectively, where they supported the communication of specific information without dominating the overall visual approach.
Outcome
The report was officially launched at the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, where it was presented to stakeholders, policymakers, and community members as part of wider advocacy and awareness efforts on LGBTQ+ poverty in Ireland.
Following the publication, LGBTQ+ communities were referenced for the first time in Ireland’s new Roadmap for Social Inclusion, as a group facing increased risk of poverty and exclusion, reflecting several of the key issues explored throughout the research.
In a subsequent update shared with Studio Kosmos, Outhouse described this recognition as a significant step forward for the community and highlighted the collective effort behind the Pride and Poverty project, including research, advocacy, funding and communication. They also noted that the publication’s design helped communicate the findings clearly and showcase the data in a meaningful way, supporting the report’s wider visibility and engagement.
In a subsequent update shared with Studio Kosmos, Outhouse described this recognition as a significant step forward for the community and highlighted the collective effort behind the Pride and Poverty project, including research, advocacy, funding and communication. They also noted that the publication’s design helped communicate the findings clearly and showcase the data in a meaningful way, supporting the report’s wider visibility and engagement.
For Studio Kosmos, the project reinforced the role of thoughtful communication design in helping complex research reach broader audiences and contribute to real-world conversations about inequality and social change.
