Background
First Focus on Children releases an annual budget analysis examining federal appropriations across 250+ programs and 11 investment categories—from Early Childhood through International Aid. The publication serves as a resource for policymakers and Congressional staff evaluating federal priorities for children.

Challenge
The 2025 cycle brought an unexpected challenge: the Trump administration’s budget proposal lacked granular program-level allocations, leaving advocacy groups struggling to find precise funding data for critical children’s programs.

Rather than omitting data or presenting gaps without context, the challenge was to communicate available funding information while making clear where figures were estimated or projected.

Approach
I directed the full design and production of the 174-page report across print, web, and social.

Working closely with the Policy team, I helped translate a new methodology for estimating 2026 projections from actual 2025 spending levels and available fiscal guidance into a clear visual framework. The goal was to make these estimates transparent and trustworthy without overwhelming readers with the underlying complexity.

Information Design
I developed a strategic color system to distinguish each of the 11 investment pillars and applied it consistently throughout the publication.

Visual indicators—including arrows and trend lines—communicated directional shifts from 2021 onward, allowing readers to understand changes in funding at a glance.

The design framework also accommodated uncertainty without sacrificing clarity, helping readers distinguish between reported figures, projections, and changes over time.

Outcome
The publication filled an important information gap for advocacy organizations seeking program-level funding figures. Congressional offices and advocacy organizations adopted it as a reference for understanding federal budget priorities, extending its use beyond First Focus’s own channels.

The project showed how thoughtful information design can make complex, uncertain data more transparent, accessible, and actionable.

To read the 2025 Children’s Budget, click here