RCEP: A secret deal

Design of printed booklet with original graphics

This 24-page full-colour A4 booklet was designed for Friends of the Earth International, Transnational Institute, Indonesia for Global Justice, Focus on the Global South, and Paung Ku. The aim: to expose the undemocratic nature of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations and the lack of transparency in international trade deals.

To reflect the deal’s hidden, complex nature, a bold visual language was created, centred on redacted text and a magnifying lens — imagery that recurs throughout the report. Through the lens, clarity and exposure break through censorship, supported by circular photographic crops echoing the magnifier shape. These devices guided readers through dense material, visually emphasising the need for transparency and scrutiny in trade negotiations. A series of social media graphics extended the message across platforms.

The project includes print and online versions and a range of social media graphics.