Towards Mobility Justice in Cape Town
Completed in: November 2025
Author: Dr. Ruth Joan Nelson (TU Delft | Global Initiative)
Graphic design: Agata Smok
Transforming research into action
Dr Ruth Joan Nelson had spent years researching Cape Town's transport inequality, gathering data and analysing findings. She has the solutions that could prevent the next crisis, insights which could reshape cities, influence legislation, improve people's lives. But what if her breakthrough paper sits unread in policymakers inbox? Research that changes the world needs to reach the world first, and that's where communication design comes in.
The challenge for me here was translating spatial modelling and transport equity research into a visual narrative that could resonate with municipal officials, community stakeholders, and policymakers across cities.
The solution: a visually synthesised policy brief titled "Towards Mobility Justice in Cape Town" that makes inequality visible and action unavoidable.
What made it work:
Four illustrated scenario futures showing exactly who gains access and who gets left behind under different policy choices,
Character-based voice portraits bringing resident testimonies to life whilst protecting anonymity,
Place-grounded visuals captured from Cape Town's actual streets,
Concrete, implementable recommendations presented with visual clarity.
The result:
Research that doesn't sit in archives. It gets shared at the G20 and is referenced by urban planners. It’s used by decision-makers and applied to other cities facing similar challenges.
Research deserves to be seen
The Cape Town mobility justice brief proves what's possible when rigorous research meets strategic visual communication. Ruth's findings aren't gathering dust. They're informing G20 discussions. Reaching urban planners globally. Giving municipal leaders actionable pathways towards justice.
Your research could do the same. You've done the hard work. The years of investigation. The careful analysis. The breakthrough insights. Now let's make sure they reach the people who can act on them.
