Banner of two illustrations for the metropolitan group

Metropolitan Group and Stanford Social Innovation Review Leadership Illustrations

We partnered with the Metropolitan Group and Stanford Social Innovation Review (SSIR) to create an illustration series of 6 articles surrounding the topic of leadership.

We were tasked with:

Co-creating illustrations with bold and vibrant colors.
Depicting the clients’ article and translating it into visuals.

Social Justice Design

We applied our racial and social justice lens to create illustrations that depict people of color from all walks of life in powerful and vibrant ways.
With the application of a social justice lens, we made sure not to perpetuate further trauma through the illustrations while being proactive about the clients’ needs.

Date

2022-2023

Services Provided

Art Direction,. Campaign Strategy & Development, Illustration, Print

Recognizing Leadership in All Its Forms

A hero narrative that enshrines one kind of leadership and the individuals who embody it dominates cultures worldwide.

Read the article here.

Social justice illustration for Metgroup and SSIR depicting a variety of closeups of colorful buildings where you can see people inside playing the piano, kids playing and someone on the computer. In the background you can see two big figures and a bridge uniting other buildings.

Details of social justice illustration for Metgroup and SSIR depicting a variety of closeups of colorful buildings where you can see people inside playing the piano, kids playing and someone on the computer. In the background you can see two big figures and a bridge uniting other buildings.

The Need for More Inclusive Leadership Narratives

Why social change organizations must ensure that their systems, policies, cultures, and behaviors align with a broader concept of leadership that centers equity and justice and encompasses leadership in all its forms.

Read the article here.

Illustration for Metgroup and SSIR depicting 4 people coming together and bearing gifts. One black person has their back turned and they are holding a box with different shapes, to their left there's a biracial boy on a wheelchair with a trans armband and holding a box or a government building, to his right there's a bald black man holding a box with speech bubbles, to his right there's a nonbinary biracial person holding a box with an open book with flowers and plants coming out of it. The illustration is very colorful

Details of Illustration for Metgroup and SSIR depicting 4 people coming together and bearing gifts. One black person has their back turned and they are holding a box with different shapes, to their left there's a biracial boy on a wheelchair with a trans armband and holding a box or a government building, to his right there's a bald black man holding a box with speech bubbles, to his right there's a nonbinary biracial person holding a box with an open book with flowers and plants coming out of it. The illustration is very colorful

Grounding Leadership in Community Wisdom

To advance equity, leadership programs must affirm, center, and strengthen the collective skills, knowledge, and aspirations of communities.

Read the article here.

Illustration for Metgroup and SSIR social justice depicting a dynamic scene of a person playing the guitar, a little boy dancing and an adult making some dance moves; on the left hand corner there's a man running and jumping over a rock, behind the rock there's a person lying down on a blanket; to their right there's a school bus and in the front plane there are two older people sitting on top of a building with a cart on their lap; the background has a palm tree, the sun and another tree

Details of Illustration for Metgroup and SSIR depicting a dynamic scene of a person playing the guitar, a little boy dancing and an adult making some dance moves; on the left hand corner there's a man running and jumping over a rock, behind the rock there's a person lying down on a blanket; to their right there's a school bus and in the front plane there are two older people sitting on top of a building with a cart on their lap; the background has a palm tree, the sun and another tree

Leading Together for Systems Change

Social change requires a deep understanding of how people and systems interact, and of how to tap into the powerful effects of people leading together.

Read the article here.

Illustration for Metgroup and SSIR depicting a fantastical scene of a long road above the sky leading to a school-like building; there are two people in front marching, one older, one younger holding a flag; there are two people facing us, hugging each other, one with their thumb up; another person with their back turned and a backpack is marching on the back; in the sky you can see someone flying on a gigantic book

Details of Illustration for Metgroup and SSIR depicting a fantastical scene of a long road above the sky leading to a school-like building; there are two people in front marching, one older, one younger holding a flag; there are two people facing us, hugging each other, one with their thumb up; another person with their back turned and a backpack is marching on the back; in the sky you can see someone flying on a gigantic book

``The Dream Creative beautifully and creatively brought our six-part series for Stanford Social Innovation Review to life. They were communicative, curious and solution-oriented while patterning with them on the project. We would be happy and would look forward to working with them again.``

Metropolitan Group

Honoring and Supporting Women of Color Leaders

The social sector must recognize the full humanity, gifts, and genius of women of color leaders and the vital role support programs play in their well-being.

Read the article here.

Illustration for Metgroup and SSIR depicting a group of people seen from a birds-eye-view, holding each other and supporting each other

Details of Illustration for Metgroup and SSIR depicting a group of people seen from a birds-eye-view, holding each other and supporting each other

Leadership Development Beyond Projects

The most impactful leadership programs prioritize broadly applicable skills, strengths, and capacities that serve participants and communities over the long term.

Read the article here.

Illustration for Metgroup and SSIR depicting a group of people in a circular formation helping a woman be inside the circle as well; there's a cute dog on the grass and a garden bed

Details of Illustration for Metgroup and SSIR depicting a group of people in a circular formation helping a woman be inside the circle as well; there's a cute dog on the grass and a garden bed

Rethinking Leadership Development Evaluation

How understanding the complexity and nuance of leadership in changing environments can help fuel system-level change.

Read the article here.