BLISS Summit

Building investor confidence and brand authority through annual report art direction

FOR

BLISS Summit

TYPE

Civic Action Forum

PERSONALITY

Disciplined, Modern, Purpose-driven

Impact report spreads on black, including the "Making freedom investible" cover and a world map page.

Impact report spreads showing the cover, The Invitation and Our Values pages.

SERVICES

Art Direction

Editorial Design

Publication Design

Print Design

Content Strategy

Event Branding

Production Mgmt.

ROLE

Art Director and Lead Designer

IMPACT

A resource that attracts capital
Quantified social impact
Elevated brand visuals

All outcomes

The BLISS Summit convenes activists, artists, political leaders, and philanthropists to invest in global freedom and fight against non-democratic rule. The summit channels capital into civic action through workshops, project pitches, and dialogues that align resources and drive collaboration.

For their 2026 gathering, BLISS needed a strategic impact report that highlighted recent successes and provided a clear case for attendees to commit their time and resources.

Report titled 'Making freedom investible' with colorful wave lines on a white cover lying on sand.

A man speaking into a microphone during an outdoor panel, with the audience behind him.

Open magazines on rough stone surface, one page reads Making Freedom Investible in colorful text.

Strategy

Project objectives

Showcase that BLISS is not just a one-off event, but a coordinated capital ecosystem that enables democracy.

Outline 2025 KPIs that measure and illustrate the investments, impact, and reach of the BLISS ecosystem.

Inspire summit attendees to contribute their time, capital, resources, and/or network to freedom-related initiatives.

Elevate the BLISS brand with world-class design that reflects the excellence of their movement.

Collage of magazine and brochure pages with text, photos, and illustrations about brands and growth.

Creative direction

When defining the visual language for the 2025 report, my goal was to match the sophistication of the BLISS movement, addressing the aesthetic constraints of earlier reports. Modernity, white space, and bold typography became key elements in the project’s mood board. In creative explorations with the client, I uncovered their preference for column-based grid layouts and large photo placements, which became key as well.

While full-bleed gradient backgrounds had been heavily used in previous reports, I advocated to replace these with featured gradient graphics for improved legibility and intentional focal points. I also advocated to replace previous 8.5x11” paper sizes with 8x10” for a more harmonious 4:5 aspect ratio, and for a size that feels bespoke and stands out from other letter documents.

Ultimately, I aimed to integrate existing brand elements like gradients, summit photography, and graphic details, while elevating and expanding the brand voice with sophisticated typography and spacious layouts.

Thoughts on theme

The theme from the 2026 BLISS Summit is “The Truth We Seek:” The world is noisy, chaotic, and polarized—this gathering challenges the community to confront disinformation, polarization, and civic decay through transparency, trust, and long-term investment. So, how do we incorporate this event theme and its abstract ideas into the report’s design?

I planned for clean layouts and clear hierarchies to counter “civic decay” and a “noisy, chaotic world” with structural order. Candid photos showing the people of the BLISS movement would build emotional connection and establish a sense of transparency and dialogue. I conceptualized bold, limited uses of color to convey confidence and authority. Finally, I planned to encourage action by showing what happens after people act—done by visually highlighting and drawing attention to BLISS’s outcomes so far in Latin America and beyond.

The cutting room floor

My initial creative proposal included 5x10” tabbed dividers, making it easy to flip to different sections and adding a unique physicality to the report. The intent was to elevate the client’s desire for full-bleed gradient backgrounds with a spot UV or clear foil treatment—creating a high-end contrast between the glossy section titles and colorful matte stock.

The production team appreciated the craft behind the tabbed dividers, but pivoted to keep all page sizes consistent and prioritize production reliability. I later redesigned the divider pages to achieve a similar, premium impact through color and visual layering. The rest of the design elements from the early concepts were approved, and we moved forward towards the final product.

An early layout of impact metrics that later changed with updated copy

An early layout of program and curriculum content that later changed with updated copy,
client feedback, and photography resources

An early layout of program and curriculum content that later changed with updated copy, client feedback, and photography resources

Creative

Report spreads on black showing an orange world map and a statistic on authoritarian regimes.

Report spreads showing a welcome letter from the founder beside an orange world map.

Report spreads pairing a statistic on authoritarian regimes with a gradient graphic.

The result of the project’s art direction and design is a 70-page report with a consistent and authoritative visual style. Organized grid layouts pair with curated photography that captures courage, leadership, and the event’s roots in Costa Rica.

Color use is primarily reserved for gradients and photography, allowing the content to stand alone in confidence. Black divider pages contrast the bulk of the report, making it easy to distinguish sections by providing bold visualizations
in between.

An open report on a chair, showing the BLISS Ecosystem and Capital Alignment Model.

White booklet titled 'Making freedom investible' with colorful wavy lines on sand.

Open book showing the BLISS Ecosystem and Capital Alignment Model on a black chair.

A values spread presenting Gratitude, Togetherness and Action with supporting photographs.

An open report spread on how BLISS mobilises coordinated capital, with a group photograph.

Report spreads describing how BLISS coordinates capital and leadership, with portraits.

Gradient elements are used to strategically draw attention to certain elements, or to add a visual flourish and tie into the greater event branding. Softer radial gradients embrace white space for feelings of optimism and growth, and add dimensionality to the design. Linear gradients create organic, unique visualizations or help structure and organize content.

A coastal sunset with waves washing over rocks.

A BLISS Summit invitation page alongside the values Gratitude, Togetherness and Action.

A man in a red turban among attendees at a summit gathering.

Hands holding an open report spread showing a session recap with photographs.

This disciplined visual asset reflects the depth of the BLISS ecosystem by highlighting the institutions, individuals, and platforms that contribute to the cause. Editorial design combines function and aesthetic to detail 25 active projects and dozens of resulting KPIs.

My work transforms high-impact data and outcomes into digestible “at a glance” metrics that provide the clarity needed to scale a global freedom movement.

A two-page spread with a sunset quote opposite the report's table of contents.

An open report on a rock in clear water, showing a panel discussion spread.

Audience of diverse women clapping and smiling attentively at an event or presentation.

Silhouettes of surfers in ocean waves during a vibrant sunset with scattered clouds.

Page showing BLISS invitation and values: gratitude, togetherness, and action with photos of people.

To address shifting priorities and diverse feedback from stakeholders, I shared high-fidelity mockups of the work with strategic recommendations throughout the process. I also provided content consultation to ensure the flow of the report would best serve the audience. These initiatives kept the project on track with a final design that satisfied all  key stakeholders.

Large BLISS letters covered in green leaves on grass with tropical plants and palm trees behind.

An open report on a black chair showing the Introduction and Capital Alignment Model.

Two circular crops of attendees at a table, one taking notes during a session.

Stack of BLISS Summit 2025 Impact Report booklets on sand with text 'Making freedom investible.'

To finish the report, I collaborated directly with the printer to select paper stock, review proofs, adjust colors and layout for print optimization, and ensure quality was up to par. I also developed a rich black ink mix that was unique to BLISS, allowing for a more saturated and impactful coverage in black areas. Finally, I recommended perfect binding for a professional, durable, and high-end look to create a lasting resource.

Report spreads showing a timeline from 2019 to 2023, including pandemic response work.

Large letters spelling BLISS covered in green leaves on grass with tropical plants behind.

Impact

The 2025 impact report set a new visual standard for how we share the BLISS story. The report has already become a key tool for our stakeholder conversations, giving supporters a clear reason to contribute to our mission. Maddie Moe captured the urgency and discipline of the BLISS ecosystem with a timeless and professional design, and we have received incredible feedback regarding the report.

Nia Demming, CEO at Democracy Lab Foundation (Host of the BLISS Summit)

Nia Demming,
CEO at Democracy Lab Foundation
(Host of the BLISS Summit)

Maddie Moe’s art direction truly brought the report to life. She delivered a beautiful visual system that the client is now carrying into additional materials. The project involved a complex stakeholder environment, and she navigated an evolving process with confidence—she knows when to be flexible or when to defend creative decisions. The client was thrilled working with her and with the final result.

Matt Twohig, Producer partnered with Cultivator Content Labs

Matt Twohig,
Producer partnered with Cultivator
Content Labs