KANSAS CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY – STRATEGIC PLAN

Hats Worn:

Design Strategist
Graphic Designer

AGENCY:

Margaret Sullivan Studio

Timeline:

6 months

PEOPLE:

Jade Esplin, Project Manager & Director of Strategy
Grace Tilghman, Strategic Designer
Margaret Sullivan, Library Expert & Principal

Challenge:

Kansas City Public Library (KCPL) has served as a cornerstone of community connection for over 150 years, but the library needed to evolve beyond its traditional lending role to address critical community needs—ongoing digital divides, literacy gaps, demographic shifts, and increased demand for safe community spaces. With nine neighborhood branches, a central library, and extensive outreach serving 250,000 residents directly (and 2.2 million across the metro area), KCPL required a strategic framework that could guide investment, focus resources, and shape services to build a more connected, informed, and thriving Kansas City for generations to come.

APPROACH:

I led visual design and editorial layout for the comprehensive three-year strategic plan, crafting a polished, accessible publication that translates community input and research into clear strategic direction. I also synthesized and owned the look and feel of a staff survey report that was part of the strategic plan’s appendix. I contributed to strategic synthesis and developed narrative content throughout the plan, articulating KCPL's refreshed vision, mission, and values in language that resonates with both internal staff and public stakeholders.

The plan was adopted by Kansas City Public Library's Board of Trustees in early 2026 and guides the library's work across three strategic priorities: Supporting All Learners, Fostering Community Pride, and Facilitating Inclusive Experiences.

193

staff survey
responses analyzed

4,788

community survey
responses collected

43

partner organizations consulted

6

strategic planning
workshops

Key Inquiry Areas

process

From Research to Visual Strategy

Joining the team midway through the project as they transitioned from research and engagement to strategic synthesis and plan development, I translated months of community input and research findings into a cohesive visual document.

Staff Survey Synthesis

As part of the broader research effort, I synthesized 193 staff survey responses using qualitative thematic analysis on Miro—grouping open-ended responses into patterns around organizational culture, values alignment, and service priorities.

Iterative Design

Working closely with the project lead, I developed the visual system for the plan through multiple rounds of client reviews. The design built off KCPL's existing brand identity but refreshed the visual language to feel more accessible and contemporary. The biggest challenge was presenting the full depth of the strategic priorities—goals, strategies, community needs, service offerings—in a way that felt beautiful, clear, and digestible rather than overwhelming. This required careful hierarchy, editorial pacing, and information design to guide readers through complex content without losing strategic nuance.