Family Philanthropy Navigator

Context
The family philanthropy department at IMD, the well known Business School in Lausanne, and Wise, consulting society in the same field, called us when they were starting to think about transforming their idea of a family philanthropy navigator into a book, explaining its value and logic. The request was to co-design a product involving external users to test the models’ prototypes, resulting in a professional product, clear and trustworthy but also funny and useful: a book to explain concepts not always easy to understand, transforming them into tangible actions. A guidebook as a captain’s log to help navigate the difficult world of family philanthropy.

Process
During almost 20 months of work we went through different stages and paths together. At the beginning we identified the project’s objectives and tested the navigator’s concepts with potential users. In parallel, we tested ideas around the book with potential readers, to understand their needs and gather their feedback. We then prepared many layout drafts, exploring the navigator’s functions, until we came up with a structure that convinced everyone. Finally, after some additional tests with final users, we completed the layout while the contents were being developed in parallel.

Solution
The result is a rich book with extensive text and illustrations that guide and facilitate the reading experience, practical exercises and interviews, and a layout that combines an academic approach with a light and easy fruition. A book not necessarily meant to be read in a chronological way, that one can always refer to when needed. The layout has been specifically designed to facilitate daily practice and usage in an immediate way, creating a tool that, together with the navigator, guides the reader through a journey of assessment, creation and awareness – with the ultimate goal of making the world a better place for all.