Scottish election materials for Kidney Research UK

To create a suite of campaign materials for Kidney Research UK to support patients, families and supporters in raising the kidney message with candidates during the Scottish election.

The brief specifically requested bringing a hint of Scottishness to the charity’s existing brand, while providing clear, accessible information in a range of digital and print formats.

Project notes

I chose to include illustrated figures on these materials because they are a key part of Kidney Research UK’s visual style, adding personality and visual interest, which would be important for the campaign. Each of the figures is also designed to reinforce the message they accompany.

The challenge was introducing a distinctly Scottish feel alongside the figures within the limited space available on the materials. To achieve this, I developed a bespoke tartan using Kidney Research UK’s brand colours and incorporated it into the figures’ clothing. This created a subtle but recognisable Scottish reference while keeping the designs cohesive and on-brand. I also created an organic shape for the figures to stand on. Its form suggests a Scottish mountain or landscape, but it is actually an abstract crop of the Saltire, adding another subtle hint of Scotland.

What it sounds like

Listen to a sample of the Manifesto (read by NVDA)

Show transcript

Transcript

Graphic page 1

Kidney Research UK logo.

Heading level 1

Manifesto for the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections transforming kidney health in Scotland.

Chronic kidney disease, CKD, affects an estimated 600,000 people in Scotland, about 1 in 10 of the population. Yet awareness remains low and opportunities to prevent the disease, diagnose it early and treat it effectively are often missed. Kidney disease can progress silently, without symptoms, by the time symptoms appear, irreversible damage may have already occurred.

Across Scotland, childhoods are being lost to kidney disease with thousands of youngsters growing up battling rare forms of the condition and spending their young lives on hospital wards. As these are commonly caused by genetics, they are difficult to diagnose and require life long treatment.

Over the next decade, as many as 10,000 people in Scotland could see their condition progress to kidney failure, requiring dialysis or transplantation. This would place enormous strain on NHS resources and have a devastating impact on individuals, families, the economy and the environment.

Kidney disease currently costs the Scottish economy more than 0.5 billion pounds a year. Without significant government intervention this could rise to more than 1 billion pounds by 2033.

Kidney Research UK is calling on all political parties to make kidney disease a health priority to prevent it where possible, diagnose it early, and ensure every person affected can live well with the right support, treatment and guidance for their condition.

Heading Level 2

Our Vision

We are calling for the next Scottish Government to publish an action plan for kidney disease that will

List with three items

Bullet. Prevent kidney disease where possible through better management of risk factors, diagnose it early and intervene to delay progression and reduce inequalities.

Bullet. Improve care for people living with rare and genetic kidney diseases.

Bullet. Invest in research, data and clinical trials for kidney patients

Out of list.