The Optimist

I was brought on as Senior Art Director to craft a standout concept for The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s conference in Lyon, France — a gathering aimed at raising funds and awareness among global leaders.

Our idea? The Optimist — an educational newsstand celebrating the often-overlooked progress in global health. In a world dominated by bad news, we wanted to shine a light on the stories that rarely make headlines: disease eradication, vaccine distribution, health education, life-saving innovations.

The newsstand was a designer’s playground: a bespoke newspaper, large posters, postcards, branded pens — all crafted to make attendees pause, read, and take the optimism home.

Visually, we teamed up with artists Minji Moon and Franziska. Franziska’s playful collages — cut-outs from newspapers and magazines — brought bold, colorful energy, while Minji’s striking, simplified shapes amplified the positivity and impact of the Foundation’s work. Together, their styles created a bright, uplifting world that matched our concept perfectly.

From concept to craft, The Optimist reimagined the traditional newsstand as a celebration of global health victories — striking, engaging, and impossible to ignore.