Verizon’s annual Data Breach Investigation Report (DBIR) has been a go-to resource for cybersecurity leaders for over a decade. However, after 12 publications, readership had plateaued. As the leading art director for the next annual DBIR campaign, my primary goal was to make this data-dense, 120-page report more digestible and accessible than ever before.

I focused on smart, intentional design. It was imperative not to lose the smart insights that readership had come to expect. But I did simplify the visuals. Unlike other business and security reports, I avoided stock photography, iconography, or other filler visuals—instead opting to let the data be the visual hero throughout the report and the report’s campaign materials.

The campaign went beyond just the security report itself. I also designed an executive summary, various industry-specific vertical reports, multiple infographics, a webinar event, contributor badges, email campaign, and more. Each was crafted with the same cohesive aesthetic that showcased the report’s data as the key visuals. Because why complicate the pieces when the data itself is so alluring?

The assets were all hosted in an engaging digital experience with interactive, data-driven tools.

And great news: it worked. The campaign yielded a 34% increase in site visits, a 57% increase in leads generated, and a 98% increase in asset downloads. It also snagged a silver at the B2 Awards for Thought Leadership.​​​​​​​

The best ideas are the product of a great team.

Lead Creative: Yours truly
Web Design & Report Design: Yours truly
Associate Art Directors: Kylie Nelson & Jimmy Araneda
Group Creative Director: Jon Guest
Motion Graphics: Andrew Burt & Justin Rosengreen
Producer: M. Todd Gorzitze
Data Analysts & Report Authors: Verizon’s DBIR team