Original Template

Listening Before Designing
Instead of jumping straight into redesign, I started with conversations.
Through informal, ongoing discussions with residents, I asked:

• What do you actually read?

• What do you skip?

• What would make this feel more like yours?

Patterns quickly emerged:
Residents didn’t want more information.
 They wanted clarity, familiarity, and connection, they wanted to feel included.
They gravitated toward:

• Recognizable faces in photos

• Writing that felt human, not institutional

• Layouts that were easy to follow and revisit

At the same time, internal teams needed:

• A format that supported storytelling and promotion

• A system that could scale month over month

Listening Before Designing
Instead of jumping straight into redesign, I started with conversations.
Through informal, ongoing discussions with residents, I asked:

• What do you actually read?

• What do you skip?

• What would make this feel more like yours?

Patterns quickly emerged:
Residents didn’t want more information.
 They wanted clarity, familiarity, and connection, they wanted to feel included.
They gravitated toward:

• Recognizable faces in photos

• Writing that felt human, not institutional

• Layouts that were easy to follow and revisit

At the same time, internal teams needed:

• A format that supported storytelling and promotion

• A system that could scale month over month

Redesigned Template

Rebranded Template

Designing an Editorial System
I approached the redesign as both a product system and an editorial experience.
The goal wasn’t just to improve aesthetics, it was to create structure, rhythm, and usability.
The system was built on:
Hierarchy
 Clear headlines and modular sections to guide attention
Rhythm
 Consistent spacing and pacing to reduce cognitive load
Accessibility
 Readable typography, strong contrast, and intentional layout flow
Storytelling
 Making space for imagery, moments, and community, not just announcements
Continuity
 Aligning closely with Sunrise’s brand to maintain trust

Designing Within Reality
Constraints were real.
PowerPoint remained the required delivery tool, and multiple stakeholders contributed content each month.
To bridge quality and practicality, I built the design system in Canva: creating a high-fidelity, low-barrier template that could be:

• Easily updated

• Reused consistently

• Adapted across content needs

This became the design foundation, regardless of final format.

Evolution & Influence
Later that year, the building underwent a rebrand, becoming The Capstone.
As part of this transition, the marketing team redesigned the newsletter.
While rebuilt in PowerPoint, the new version reflected:

• The same structural logic

• The same hierarchy

• The same editorial pacing

My redesign became a reference point for the new system, demonstrating its ability to scale beyond its original scope.

Key Takeaways

• Designed for real users through direct conversation

• Applied UX principles to print and PDF formats

• Built a scalable editorial system within constraints

• Balanced clarity, accessibility, and warmth

• Influenced future design direction across the organization