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Designwest worked with the Department of Transport to design both the English and Irish versions of the national strategy publication Moving Together – A Collaborative Approach to Systems Change in Transport 2026–2030. This large-scale editorial brochure design project required clear information hierarchy, strong visual structure and accessible layout design to communicate a complex national policy strategy across Ireland.
Introduction
High-quality brochure design plays an essential role in communicating national policy and complex information clearly. For Irish public sector organisations, well-structured publications are not simply reports. They are tools used by policymakers, stakeholders and the public to understand important strategies that affect the future of the country.
Designwest recently completed another major publication for the Department of Transport: Moving Together – A Collaborative Approach to Systems Change in Transport 2026–2030, delivered in both English and Irish language versions.
As brochure designers in Dublin Ireland, Designwest has worked with the Department on multiple publications over the years. This continued partnership reflects the importance of strong editorial design when communicating national strategies, policy frameworks and long-term government plans.
The Moving Together strategy outlines a systemic approach to improving Ireland’s transport network, addressing climate policy, mobility challenges and sustainable transport goals for the coming decade.
Moving Together Strategy Update…
The publication itself required careful design thinking to ensure the information was accessible, structured and easy to navigate for readers across government departments, agencies and stakeholders throughout Ireland.
The Client Project
The Department of Transport commissioned Designwest to design the strategy publication Moving Together – A Collaborative Approach to Systems Change in Transport 2026–2030, along with the Irish language version Bogadh le Chéile – Cur Chuige Comhoibríoch i leith Athrú Córas san Iompar 2026–2030.
Moving Together Strategy Irish …
The publication forms part of a broader national policy framework addressing sustainable mobility, climate action, and transport infrastructure development.
Key areas covered in the strategy include:
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from road transport
- Improving public transport accessibility
- Supporting sustainable mobility and active travel
- Addressing congestion and urban transport pressures
- Supporting national climate targets and EU commitments
Transport remains one of the largest contributors to energy consumption and emissions across Europe, making strategic planning and communication essential.
Moving Together Strategy Update…
The Department required a clear, professionally designed publication that could present extensive policy material in a readable, structured and engaging format.
The Design Challenge
Designing national strategy documents presents a unique set of challenges.
Unlike standard marketing brochures, policy publications contain:
- large volumes of text
- complex diagrams and references
- multiple policy frameworks
- legislative context
- bilingual versions
The key challenge for Designwest was to create a layout system that allowed readers to navigate hundreds of pages of policy material without visual overload.
The design also had to support two full versions of the publication:
- the English strategy document
- the Irish language edition
Maintaining design consistency across both publications while ensuring linguistic readability was a critical requirement.
The publication also needed to reflect the tone and authority expected of a national government strategy while still being approachable and visually engaging.
The Designwest Approach
At Designwest, editorial brochure design begins with structure rather than decoration.
Before developing visual styling, the Designwest team focused on how readers would interact with the publication.
Key considerations included:
- clear chapter hierarchy
- strong section breaks
- intuitive page navigation
- accessible typography
- clear integration of imagery and data
Because the publication addresses systemic change across Ireland’s transport system, the design also needed to communicate movement, connectivity and collaboration through its visual language.
The cover design introduces this concept through layered landscape forms and transport imagery, referencing Ireland’s built and natural environments while symbolising movement and infrastructure.
This subtle visual storytelling helps reinforce the theme of transport systems connecting communities across Ireland.
The Design Process
Designwest followed a structured editorial design process for the project.
1. Research and Content Analysis
The first stage involved reviewing the full strategy document to understand:
- chapter structure
- policy themes
- diagrams and charts
- supporting imagery
Understanding the structure of the document allowed the team to design a layout that supported readability from the outset.
2. Editorial Layout System
A flexible editorial grid was developed to support:
- full-width imagery
- multi-column text
- policy callouts
- charts and data visualisations
This system allowed the publication to remain visually consistent across hundreds of pages.
3. Typography and Readability
Government publications require typography that is:
- highly readable
- neutral and professional
- consistent across long documents
Designwest selected type styles that ensured clarity across both English and Irish text blocks.
Careful attention was paid to:
- line length
- spacing
- heading hierarchy
This ensures the reader can quickly navigate through chapters and sections.
4. Visual Section Navigation
Each major section of the strategy includes distinctive layout elements to help readers identify their position within the publication.
For example:
- large photographic spreads introduce key sections
- coloured panels help break long chapters into readable segments
- page numbering and headers guide the reader through the document
This approach prevents the document from becoming visually dense.
Key Design Features
Strong Visual Chapter Introductions
Large full-page photography introduces major sections of the report, helping readers transition between policy themes.
For example, the mockups show section openers featuring transport imagery and urban movement, reinforcing the strategy’s focus on sustainable mobility.
Structured Information Hierarchy
The layout uses clear heading levels, typographic contrast and consistent spacing to structure the information.
This hierarchy ensures readers can easily identify:
- main chapters
- subsections
- supporting policy commentary
Balanced Use of Imagery
Photography is used carefully throughout the publication to support the narrative.
Images of transport users and urban mobility environments help ground the strategy in real-world context.
Clear Data Presentation
Strategy documents often contain graphs, statistics and modelling results.
The design ensures these are clearly integrated within the page layout rather than appearing as isolated charts.
Consistent Design Across Two Languages
Designing both English and Irish versions required a flexible layout system that accommodates language differences without altering the overall design structure.
This ensures visual consistency across both publications.
Why This Project Works
The final publication succeeds because the design supports the content rather than competing with it.
The strategy document addresses complex national issues including transport emissions, infrastructure investment and sustainable mobility policy.
For example, the strategy highlights how systemic changes in transport behaviour are required to help Ireland achieve climate targets and reduce emissions.
Moving Together Strategy Update…
The design ensures this information remains:
- readable
- accessible
- clearly structured
A well-designed publication makes it easier for policymakers, stakeholders and organisations across Ireland to engage with the material.
How Professional Brochure Design Helps Irish Organisations
This project demonstrates why professional brochure design matters.
For Irish organisations, particularly those publishing policy documents, strategy papers or research reports, good editorial design can:
- improve readability of complex information
- support better communication with stakeholders
- strengthen credibility and professionalism
- make long documents easier to navigate
Designwest has worked with government departments, public bodies and organisations across Ireland, developing publications that communicate policy clearly and effectively.
For large strategy documents, this level of design expertise is essential.
Call To Action
If your organisation needs a professionally designed publication, report or strategy document, Designwest can help.
Our team specialises in:
- brochure design
- catalogue design
- editorial publication design
- brand identity development
- website design
As brochure designers in Dublin Ireland, we work with organisations across the country to produce high-quality publications that communicate clearly and effectively.
Contact Designwest to discuss your next publication or design project.
Key Takeaways
- Designwest designed the Moving Together transport strategy publication for the Department of Transport.
- The project included both English and Irish language versions of the strategy.
- The design focused on clarity, readability and structured editorial layout.
- Strong design hierarchy makes complex national policy information easier to understand.
- Designwest continues to work with government departments and organisations across Ireland on major publication projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does a professional brochure designer do?
A brochure designer creates structured layouts that present complex information clearly and attractively. This includes typography, layout grids, imagery placement and visual hierarchy. Professional brochure design ensures publications are readable and engaging.
2. Why should organisations use professional brochure designers in Dublin Ireland?
Working with experienced brochure designers in Dublin Ireland ensures your publication meets high professional standards. Designers understand both the Irish market and the importance of clear communication in public and corporate publications.
3. What makes Designwest one of Ireland’s best brochure designers?
Designwest has extensive experience designing publications for businesses, organisations and government departments across Ireland. Our focus on clarity, structure and strong editorial design ensures publications communicate effectively.
4. What is custom brochure design?
Custom brochure design involves creating a publication tailored specifically to the client’s content, brand and audience. Unlike templates, custom designs are built around the structure and goals of the project.
5. How long does it take to design a large publication?
Large publications such as strategy reports or policy documents can take several weeks depending on page count, content complexity and review processes. Editorial design requires careful layout planning and revisions.
6. What is editorial brochure design?
Editorial brochure design focuses on long-form publications such as reports, policy documents or catalogues. It requires strong layout systems that maintain readability across many pages.
7. Can brochure designers work with bilingual publications?
Yes. Experienced brochure designers regularly work with bilingual publications, ensuring layouts remain consistent while accommodating different language lengths and structures.
8. Why is layout structure important in policy documents?
Policy documents often contain dense information. A clear layout helps readers navigate chapters, locate information quickly and understand complex material.
9. What industries require brochure design?
Many sectors require brochure design, including government, education, healthcare, manufacturing and professional services.
10. What makes a brochure effective?
An effective brochure combines clear messaging, strong layout hierarchy and professional visual design.
11. What is the difference between brochure and catalogue design?
Brochures often present information about services or strategies, while catalogues focus on product listings and specifications.
12. Can brochure design improve communication with stakeholders?
Yes. Clear design makes information easier to understand, which improves engagement with stakeholders and decision-makers.
13. How does typography affect brochure design?
Typography affects readability and information hierarchy. Proper type selection and spacing improve the reader’s ability to process information.
14. What role do images play in brochure design?
Images help illustrate concepts and break up large sections of text, improving engagement and readability.
15. Why is visual hierarchy important?
Visual hierarchy guides the reader’s attention through headings, sections and supporting information.
16. How does brochure design support branding?
Consistent design elements reinforce brand identity and professionalism.
17. What software is used for brochure design?
Professional designers typically use tools such as Adobe InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop.
18. Can brochures be used for digital publications?
Yes. Many brochures are designed for both print and digital distribution.
19. What size should a brochure be?
Brochures can vary widely in size depending on the project. Strategy documents are often larger multi-page publications.
20. Why is page layout important in long documents?
Good page layout prevents reader fatigue and makes large documents easier to navigate.
21. What industries require editorial publication design?
Government departments, NGOs, universities and research organisations frequently require editorial publication design.
22. Can brochure design support government publications?
Yes. Many government departments rely on professional designers to present policy documents clearly.
23. What is the benefit of working with experienced brochure designers?
Experienced designers understand how to structure complex information visually.
24. Why choose a Dublin brochure design studio?
Local designers understand the Irish market and can collaborate easily with clients.
25. How can I start a brochure design project with Designwest?
Simply contact Designwest to discuss your project requirements and publication goals.
Author Bio
Declan Foley is the Creative Director of Designwest and founder of Think AI, working with Irish businesses and organisations to develop branding, websites and high-quality design systems
