I solved many design challenges during this process. First, pamphlets had to be folded by hand, and no machine would auto-fold them—also, those visiting the website for these pamphlets would need to fold by hand as well. Second, pamphlets like the Transgender pamphlet had too much text to fit in any sort of design with headers. Finally, the pamphlets needed a strong structure to represent topic individuality, quick synopses, and relation to other pamphlets within a topic.
Solving the folding concern was easy. Many designers put elements into their work that have strategic importance. If you check on the 'back' of each pamphlet, all pamphlets have small text at their innermost third fold. That means that it's easy for volunteers to know where to fold. Moreover, the text had a use: it explained how to print these pamphlets on printers that support duplex printing. This can often be a technical headache.
Solving the overpopulated content was a bigger problem. Some pamphlets, like the Transgender identity pamphlet, were split into multiple pamphlets with cross-referencing. Paragraphs about commonly used terms were turned into a definition list, with a separate pamphlet having the full list. Other paragraphs discussing common transgender identities were upgraded to their own sections on both pamphlets. This balancing of content between sections and pamphlet goals allowed either pamphlet to discuss a wide breadth of the topic, while still being differentiated from its peer in extent.
My most exciting challenge was to engineer the pamphlet designs. Transcending Boundaries is a conference that is ultimately about identities--who is allowed to do what, what defines a person's identity, and from where this understanding arises. The personal nature of identity made a unifying structure difficult, but accomplished: not just for the simple front page designs, but for the order and goals of sections. The previous version of the pamphlets did not break content into these sections, but often had similar arrangements prepared to unify in the same spirit.
As a result, each page strikingly divides the topic. The front page includes a skillful synopsis not often provided in the previous versions. The second page reveals the testimony of one who identifies as this label. Respecting their space is a section for boundaries that such folk expect or need. Historical boundaries discusses the history and present of those with such identities, and Being their Witness highlights the differences and nuances to this identity that explain the misinformation often heard about the topic.