The Nesta Prize Team had aimed to develop six illustrative infographics and corresponding high-level timelines for six challenge prize concepts. These each emphasized their unique selling points. These concepts included generating energy in space, scaling EdTech for environmentally displaced people, supporting farming in arid conditions, zero carbon neighborhoods, smart nature-based solutions, and green off-grid energy production. The purpose of these design assets was to clearly outline the problem, the role of the prize, the challenge statement, and the prize's involvement for each concept. Each also contained a proposed timeframe for the prize at the bottom of each graphic.

Generating solar power in space and beaming it down. to earth

This infographic outlines the process, timeline, and key milestones in a competition aimed at promoting innovation in space-based solar power generation. The overall goal of the competition is to generate solar power in orbit and beam it down to Earth using microwave power transmission.

The infographic is divided into five main sections: Stratospheric tests, Lab-based R&D, Orbital deployment and assembly, Satellite launch, and at-scale tech demonstration. We decided to present these in the context of a step-by-step space launch, using numbers to identify and illustrate how the process could work in theory. We used visual references from engineering diagrams, space launches to design the aesthetic.

Barriers facing EdTech innovators

This infographic design project aims to address barriers faced by EdTech innovators and develop sustainable solutions in educational technology. The project focuses on co-creating with communities, considering various stakeholders, and allocating resources effectively. It also emphasizes the importance of building a multidisciplinary team and designing for different delivery contexts.

Key aspects of the project include developing flexible curricula that account for linguistic and cultural differences and designing for practical realities such as hardware, internet access, and energy availability. 

Climbing in the energy ladder towards sustainable development

In this design project, we aimed to emphasize the importance of affordable, reliable, and clean energy in achieving sustainable development and improving the quality of education for children. We used a ladder as a visual metaphor in the graphic to represent the progressive steps taken toward sustainable energy solutions.

The ladder illustrated the transition from hazardous fuels and limited electricity access to a brighter future with electric lighting and better educational opportunities for children. Each rung of the ladder symbolized a step towards improving energy sources and overcoming the challenges faced by families in their daily lives. We occasionally use visual metaphors within infographics when the focus of the messaging is not literal and multifaceted.