ACLED Trends Tool
Date: February 2026
Duration: 4 weeks
Role: Graphic Designer, Art Director, Marketing Lead / Content Strategist
Skills: Graphic Design, Art Direction, Brand Strategy, Branding, Communications
In collaboration with the Communications department, the Executive Board, and the Revenue team, I spearheaded the development of a high-impact video script to launch the ACLED’s Trends tools. My role was to translate complex machine-learning forecasts into a clear, market-ready narrative that showcased the tool's ability to predict political violence trends up to six months in advance. By aligning the script with the organization’s strategic 2026 growth goals and revenue targets, I ensured the content effectively communicated the value of 'predictive foresight' to global decision-makers, ultimately positioning ACLED as a leader in forward-looking conflict intelligence.
The Challenge
ACLED is globally recognized for its historical conflict data, but the organization wanted to pivot toward predictive analytics. My task was to translate the complex, machine-learning outputs of the new Conflict Alert System (CAST) into a compelling commercial offering that resonated with high-level decision-makers in the humanitarian, government, and private sectors.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
To ensure the campaign aligned with both organizational mission and financial goals, I facilitated a three-way strategic alignment:
- With the Executive Board: I ensured the messaging maintained ACLED’s reputation for neutrality and academic rigor, avoiding “alarmist” tones while highlighting the tool’s urgency.
- With the Revenue Team: We defined the Value Proposition. We shifted the focus from “more data” to “actionable foresight,” identifying tiered subscription models that the video would help sell.
- With the Data Team: I translated technical “Tweedie distribution” models and 6-month rolling forecasts into digestible visual narratives for the client ad.
The Solution: The "Predicting the Unpredictable" Ad Campaign
I produced a flagship client ad video that served as the centerpiece for the tool’s launch. The video didn’t just show graphs; it told the story of preparedness.
- Visual Storytelling: Used dynamic mapping to show the transition from historical “heatmaps” to 2026 “risk zones.”
- Trend Integration: Highlighted key 2026 trends—such as the fragmentation of armed groups and the surge in remote violence—to demonstrate how the Predictor Tool identifies “silent” risks before they escalate.
- Targeted CTA: Directed viewers to a bespoke landing page within the myACLED portal designed for high-conversion lead generation.
The Results (Mock-up/Example)
Alignment: Successfully bridged the gap between complex data science and market-ready messaging.
- Engagement: (Add a metric here if you have one, e.g., “The campaign led to a X% increase in demo requests for the CAST tool within the first quarter.”)
- Brand Evolution: Positioned ACLED as a forward-looking tech-intelligence leader rather than just a data repository.
