Myanmar Gender Issues Reports

OVERVIEW
Commissioned by The SecDev Foundation in collaboration with K4DM and IDRC Canada, this series of report covers explored gender inequality, digital violence, and internet access in post-coup Myanmar. With topics like non-consensual pornography and militarized masculinity, the visuals had to carry weight, clarity, and emotional punch.

CONCEPT & INSPIRATION
In a brainstorm with the Foundation’s Chief Storyteller, John Hall, he threw out a passing line—“Honestly, even stick figures would work.” That was it. The spark. I dropped the polished, abstract drafts and leaned into something raw, symbolic, and stripped to the bone. I sketched three directions, but the stick-figure style, loaded with intention and directness, became the clear winner.

ILLUSTRATION & SYMBOLISM
The illustrations act as visual metaphors. In one, a monstrous face peers at a laptop where a woman sits exposed, symbolizing the cruel gaze of non-consensual digital abuse. In another, massive military boots press down on the word “DEMOCRACY,” held up by tiny, straining figures. Everything is exaggerated, a little off-balance, intentionally uneasy. The linework is rough but intentional, designed to grab attention and hold it.

LAUNCH
Released on January 1, 2024, the reports were widely circulated online and in policy circles, with the illustrations setting the tone. They became visual anchors for a conversation too often ignored, especially in regions where freedom of expression is under threat. What started as a quick sketch style ended up delivering a loud, clear message.