UNESCO Global Education Monitoring (GEM) report design
From custom data visualizations to digital assets, discover how we helped make the report accessible to global audiences across print and online platforms.
Established in 2002, the Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report is an independent, annual publication hosted by UNESCO. It was mandated by 160 governments at the 2015 World Education Forum to monitor and report on global progress in education, particularly under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), with a focus on SDG 4: Quality Education.
This report is an editorially independent initiative that serves as a foundation for evidence-based advocacy – a critical resource in tracking global education efforts and informing policy changes across the globe. The GEM Report draws on extensive global data and communicates findings to policymakers, helping shape education strategies around the world. With 17 editions published between 2002 and 2021, it remains an indispensable part of the global education architecture.
In 2020, Optima tendered to become the approved creative agency for the GEM Report, and after a rigorous selection process, we were shortlisted alongside two other international design agencies. The challenge was to deliver a visually compelling and multilingual design that would elevate the presentation of key data while ensuring clarity and accessibility.
The GEM Report spans multiple data sources and is produced in multiple UN languages, requiring an adaptable design approach to present complex information clearly across diverse linguistic and cultural contexts. Additionally, the materials needed to be suitable for various platforms, including print, digital, and social media.
Optima worked closely with the UNESCO GEM team to design and set the report’s key chapters and accompanying summaries in multiple languages. Our design emphasized clean, effective layouts to present data-driven insights, ensuring that complex educational data was communicated clearly. We also developed custom charts and graphics to visualize progress on SDG 4 targets, enhancing the overall readability and engagement. “Partnering with UNESCO on the GEM Report gave our team a chance to showcase not only our print design expertise but also our skills in handling complex, multilingual typesetting and intricate data visualisations,” says Alice, Optima’s Lead Designer. “The global impact of this report meant that we had to ensure accuracy, creativity, and consistency across every version, no matter the language.”
In addition to the print and digital reports, we created social media banners and web assets for webinars to promote the report's findings globally. These assets were crucial in ensuring that the GEM Report’s messaging reached key decision-makers worldwide.
Annual Launch Event and Thematic Focus
Each year, UNESCO holds a major launch event to reveal the latest edition of the GEM Report, with a focus on a specific theme. In 2023, the theme was Technology in Education, exploring how digital tools and innovations are reshaping learning environments worldwide. For the upcoming 2024/2025 GEM Report, the theme is Leadership in Education, examining the role of leadership at every level—from policymakers to school leaders—in shaping successful educational outcomes.
The 2024/2025 GEM Report will be launched at the prestigious Global Education Meeting in Fortaleza, Brazil, on 31st October 2024, bringing together key global stakeholders to discuss leadership’s critical role in advancing educational goals.
Multilingual Design and Global Impact
Optima’s print design team was instrumental in producing the GEM Report in several UN languages, including Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish. Our team’s deep expertise in multilingual layout design ensured that each version of the report was accessible, clear, and visually consistent. We also took great care in crafting detailed charts and data visualizations, which played a key role in communicating educational statistics in an engaging and effective way to a diverse global audience.
Following our successful delivery of the initial design elements, Optima’s work on the GEM Report received positive feedback. Our ability to deliver high-quality designs in multiple languages, coupled with our attention to detail in data visualization, helped secure Optima as the ongoing creative partner for future editions of the GEM Report. Our designs have played a key role in making the report’s findings accessible and engaging for policymakers and education stakeholders worldwide.
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