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Overview
The Town of Newton sought to support its growing multilingual student population by providing teachers in mainstream classrooms with accessible, practical tools for working with English Language Learners (ELLs). The goal was to offer guidance that felt easy to reference without overwhelming educators.
Planet Lobo was commissioned to create a visual system and print collateral to bring the materials to life, resulting in a poster series and a pocket-sized guidebook that teachers could use daily.
Goals
Create tools that help general education teachers quickly access ESL best practices
Design layouts and illustrations that reduce overwhelm and increase usability
Ensure materials are clear, friendly, and supportive especially for newer educators
Reinforce the town’s commitment to equity, inclusion, and multilingual support
What we did
Visual design for the official ESL Quick Reference Guide (pocket-sized print booklet)
Poster series highlighting 5 core best practices for supporting ELL students
Visual hierarchy, typography, and layout system optimized for clarity
Custom icons and illustrations to support comprehension and retention
Print-ready design files for town-wide distribution in Newton schools
Outcome
The guidebook and posters have been distributed throughout Newton’s public schools and classrooms, offering a quick-access resource that empowers teachers to better serve ELL students. The pocket guide is frequently referenced during planning meetings and classroom prep, while the posters act as everyday visual reminders of inclusive teaching practices.
What made it special
This project balanced clarity, empathy, and practicality. Instead of overloading teachers with policy or theory, the visuals focused on simple, powerful actions presented in a format that actually fits into a real teacher’s day. The tone is encouraging and confident, and the design system reflects a public institution that’s evolving to meet the needs of all learners.
Services included
Print Guidebook Design
Poster Series Layout & Visual System
Custom Iconography
Typography & Accessibility Design
Print Production Support
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