Andrea Brunty

With untested rape kits piling up across the country, the Department of Justice wanted action – and convictions. Years later, a USA TODAY investigation finds, many of the same problems remain.

I art directed an illustrator to refine conceptual imagery, a visual identity, a color scheme and more, in addition to designing the series and creating assets to feature the women’s handwriting and quotes. The project included an accompanying podcast.

The project won many awards, including a Bronze from Society for News Design. The judges praised the clean presentation and strong use of illustrations and graphics, especially given the difficulty of the topic. They highlighted the effective use of the red line as both a visual and metaphoric connector throughout the piece. The consistent color scheme and interactivity, including parallax scrolling and animated data, contributed to a cohesive and engaging package.