OHRDP – Custom Illustrated Training Guide
The Ontario Harm Reduction Distribution Program (OHRDP) partnered with 1dea to create a training guide for clinics across Ontario. The goal was to make harm reduction education clear, approachable, and usable in real-world front-line environments through custom illustration, strong hierarchy, and publication design.
The Why Behind the Work
Harm reduction is complex, sensitive, and often misunderstood. OHRDP needed a guide that could support staff training without feeling clinical, cold, or overly academic.
The content had to be easy to navigate under pressure, while still holding nuance and credibility. That meant designing a publication that was structured like a practical tool, and illustrated in a way that felt human, direct, and grounded in lived reality.
This work was recognized with an RGD Award for Social Good, celebrating the role design can play in safer, more informed communities.
How We Helped
- We transformed complex medical guidelines into a set of accessible, bold, and professional training assets
- Created a unique visual language to represent sensitive topics accurately without being alienating.
- Developed a custom page layout that prioritizes clarity and rapid information retrieval for busy front-line workers.
- Managed the print production process to ensure the final manuals were durable and professional.
- Repurposed the guide’s established look to create complementary posters, further disseminating critical safety messages throughout the community.
- Designed a full publication system with clear hierarchy, section structure, and consistent layout rules.
Our Continued Partnership
Ongoing print production and inventory management for province-wide distribution.
Iterative design updates to training manuals as health guidelines and best practices evolve.
Strategic brand extensions, including the development of new posters and digital assets to reinforce safety messages.
Accessibility audits to ensure all illustrations and layouts meet current provincial standards for public health communications.
Consultation on visual storytelling for future provincial training initiatives and front-line engagement tools.
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