UNMISS Human Rights Division
Data Visualization &
Brand Identity Guidelines
A comprehensive specification for all data products produced by or on behalf of UNMISS HRD — covering brand identity, color systems, typography, chart standards, infographic templates, and cartographic rules. Binding for all staff and external designers.
Brand Identity
UNMISS Human Rights Division’s public voice rests on clarity, neutrality, and respect for victims. Data visualization is part of that identity: graphics must be instantly recognizable as HRD work, aligned with institutional messaging, and free of sensational or political styling. This section sets expectations before you apply color, type, and layout rules in the rest of the guide.
Institutional alignment
All charts, maps, dashboards, and infographics should reinforce HRD’s mandate — documenting human rights and humanitarian law concerns in South Sudan — without undermining the UN’s impartiality. Visual choices support trust: consistent use of the HRD logo, approved palettes, and IBM Plex typography signals official analysis rather than advocacy or campaign material.
Logo and naming
Use the approved UNMISS HRD logo (see header and infographic mockup) on covers, hero panels, and report mastheads. Do not redraw, recolour, or distort the mark. Pair it with the full name UNMISS Human Rights Division or “UNMISS HRD” where space is limited — never unofficial abbreviations. Data products remain subordinate to the logo hierarchy: the logo anchors the page; charts sit in clearly defined content areas below.
Voice through visualization
Tone is carried by restraint: avoid decorative effects, emotive colour (e.g. alarm red for emphasis), or playful iconography. Let the data speak; use annotation and source lines to explain context. Brand identity here means predictable structure — readers know where to find titles, sources, and disclaimers — which strengthens credibility over time.
Brand Color Foundation
The UNMISS HRD color system is anchored in deep institutional navy — derived directly from the HRD logo. All six data palettes extend from this root without overlap. Click any swatch to copy its hex code.
Primary Palette
Violation Types — Color System
Six distinct colors, each permanently assigned to one violation type. This palette occupies the cool-dark chromatic region (deep navy, cobalt, teal, indigo, wine, forest). Red and yellow are excluded. Hover to expand. Click to copy.
Perpetrator Groups — Color System
Three colors in the warm earth and neutral grey family — visually in a completely different chromatic region from violations (cool) and gender (vivid). Q1 2026: Community-based militias and/or civil defense groups 67% · Conventional parties and other armed groups 28% · Unidentified and/or opportunistic armed elements 5%.
Gender & Age Disaggregation — Color System
Four vivid, high-contrast colors in the sky-blue and raspberry-pink family — categorically distinct from violations (dark/cool) and perpetrators (warm earth). Adult/child pairs graduate in saturation. Q1 2026: Men 75.1% · Women 15.7% · Boys 6.1% · Girls 3.1%.
State-Level Colors — South Sudan
Ten perceptually distinct colors for the ten states. Used in multi-state comparison charts and qualitative choropleth maps. All tested for color vision deficiency compatibility.
Sequential & Intensity Scales
Used for choropleth maps, heatmaps, and any single-variable intensity visualization. Hover any step to expand. Always prefer the Navy scale as primary; use Teal as secondary when two intensity maps appear on the same page.
Navy Sequential — Primary
Teal Sequential — Secondary
Type System — IBM Plex
IBM Plex Sans is the exclusive typeface for all UNMISS HRD data outputs. Designed for technical and data-dense environments, it offers exceptional legibility at small sizes, institutional authority, and an extensive weight range. No substitutions permitted.
Complete Type Scale & Usage Rules
Every text element in every HRD output has a specified size, weight, color, and use context. These are not suggestions — they are binding specifications. pt = print · px = digital/screen.
| Element | Preview | Family | Weight | Size | Color | Usage Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infographic Title | Human Rights Update | IBM Plex Sans | 700 Bold | 28pt / 38px | #0D1F3C | Main title — always in dark header panel |
| Report Title | Q1 2026 Update | IBM Plex Sans | 700 Bold | 18pt / 24px | #0D1F3C | Word report cover · Section H1 |
| Section Heading | Civilian Casualties | IBM Plex Sans | 600 SemiBold | 14pt / 18px | #1A3260 | Infographic section labels — uppercase tracked |
| Chart Title | Victims by Perpetrator Group | IBM Plex Sans | 600 SemiBold | 11pt / 14px | #0D1F3C | Directly above every chart. Always present. |
| Chart Subtitle | January–March 2026 | IBM Plex Sans | 400 Italic | 9.5pt / 12px | #8898A8 | Time period, scope, or clarifying note |
| Big Number (KFI) | 1,355 | IBM Plex Sans | 700 Bold | 42pt / 56px | violation color | Key figure indicators in infographic panels |
| KFI Label | TOTAL VICTIMS | IBM Plex Condensed | 700 Bold | 7.5pt / 9.5px | rgba(255,255,255,.4) | Caption below KFI — ALL CAPS, tracked 0.12em |
| Axis Labels | Q1-2025 · Q4-2025 · Q1-2026 | IBM Plex Condensed | 400 Regular | 8pt / 10.5px | #8898A8 | X and Y axis tick labels on all charts |
| Data Labels | 737 | IBM Plex Sans | 600 SemiBold | 9pt / 11.5px | #0D1F3C or #FFFFFF | Values on bars, lines, donut segments |
| Legend Text | ● Community-based militias and/or civil defense groups | IBM Plex Sans | 500 Medium | 8.5pt / 11px | #4A5568 | Legend entries for all chart types |
| Body / Highlights | At least 1,355 civilians were affected… | IBM Plex Sans | 400 Regular | 9pt / 11.5px | #0D1F3C | Highlights text · Body paragraphs |
| Source / Footnote | Source: UNMISS HRD · Jan–Mar 2026 | IBM Plex Mono | 400 Regular | 7pt / 9px | #8898A8 | Source lines — mandatory on every chart |
Recommended Chart Types
Not all chart types suit HRD data. The following are approved for use — selected for communicating human rights data clearly to government officials, donors, and media. Hover cards to see use context.
Mandatory Chart Elements
Every chart produced by or for UNMISS HRD must include all Required elements. Missing required elements will necessitate revision before any publication or dissemination.
Chart Title
Descriptive and specific. States what is shown. Example: "Civilian Victims by Violation Type — Q1 2026"
Source Line
Always: "Source: UNMISS Human Rights Division" with reporting period and applicable data caveats
Legend / Key
All color-encoded categories must be identified. No chart should require guesswork to interpret.
Axis Labels
Both axes labeled with variable name and unit. Example: "Number of Victims" · "Quarter (2023–2026)"
Data Labels on Key Figures
At minimum: highest and lowest values must be labeled directly on the chart. All values preferred.
Time Period
Always explicit. In title or subtitle: "January–March 2026 (Q1 2026)". Never ambiguous.
Subtitle / Context
Geographic scope, comparison baseline, or qualifying methodology note below the chart title
Comparison Baseline
Where trend analysis is relevant, prior period data should be shown or explicitly referenced
Annotation Callouts
Highlight notable events (e.g., "Abiemnom mass casualty event, March 2026") where visible in data
Confidence Flags
For data with known underreporting or pending verification, include a caveat indicator
Map Boundary Disclaimer
All maps: "Boundaries shown do not imply official endorsement by the United Nations." Minimum 7pt.
Classification Statement
Document classification and distribution (e.g., "For Official Use Only") where applicable
Annotated Sample Charts — Live Q1 2026 Data
All charts below are rendered from actual Q1 2026 data and demonstrate correct implementation of the color palettes, typography scale, mandatory elements, and annotation conventions.
Victims by Violation Type — Three-Quarter Comparison
Q1-2025 · Q4-2025 · Q1-2026
Victims by Perpetrator Group
Q1 2026 — January to March 2026
Total Victims by State — Q1 2026 (January to March)
Ranked by victim count · Northern Bahr el Ghazal: zero documented incidents
Monthly Victims by Perpetrator Group — Jan 2023 to Mar 2026
39-month trend analysis · Community-based militias and/or civil defense groups; Conventional parties and other armed groups; Unidentified and/or opportunistic armed elements
Victims by Violation Type & Sex/Age
Q1 2026 · CRSV: male victims excluded per protocol
Quarterly Totals — Q1-25 vs Q4-25 vs Q1-26
All violation types and grand total
Cartographic Standards
Maps are produced using QGIS, ArcGIS, or validated web mapping libraries. Hand-drawn or traced maps are strictly prohibited. The UN boundary disclaimer is mandatory on all maps without exception.
Choropleth Maps
- Use Navy Sequential Scale (Section 06) for intensity
- 4–7 classification breaks; Natural Breaks (Jenks) preferred
- Legend with numerical ranges, not color swatches only
- State borders: 1pt #FFFFFF stroke; Country border: 1.5pt #4A5568
- No-data areas: #DDE3EE fill, 0.5pt border
Proportional Symbol / Bubble Maps
- Navy #0D1F3C for single-category; violation palette for multi-category
- Bubble area — not radius — scales proportionally to data value
- Minimum diameter: 4px · Maximum: 40px
- Opacity: 0.75–0.85 for overlap visibility
- Include 3-bubble size legend with labeled reference value
Mandatory Map Elements
- Title — geographic scope + time period
- Legend — all symbols and colors explained
- Scale bar — all standalone maps
- North arrow — all standalone maps
- Source line — "Source: UNMISS HRD / OCHA"
- UN boundary disclaimer — always present, min 7pt
- HRD logo — bottom-right of map frame
Basemap Specifications
- Background: #F4F6FA · Water: #C5DBF0
- Adjacent countries: #EAE8E0 fill · #A8A098 label, 8pt Italic Condensed
- South Sudan base: #F0EDE4
- State labels: 8.5pt Medium IBM Plex Sans Condensed, uppercase, tracked
- County labels: 7pt Regular, title case
- Never use satellite/photo basemaps in published infographics
Infographic Grid Specifications
A standardized grid ensures cross-edition consistency while allowing content variation. All dimensions are specified for both A4/Letter landscape (print) and 1920×1080px (digital/screen).
Letter Landscape: 279 × 216mm
Digital Wide: 1920 × 1080px
Margins: 12mm all sides
Gutter: 6mm between columns
Highlights band: 100% width
Key Figures panel: 25% left
Main Chart area: 75% right
Footer: 100% width
Highlights band: #162447
Key Figures panel: #1A3260
Chart area: #F4F6FA background
Footer: #0D1F3C
Infographic Mockup — Q1 2026
The mockup below demonstrates the correct layout, color zones, font hierarchy, and data placement. Each annotated element below the mockup corresponds to a specific typographic or design specification.
Human Rights Situation Update
January to March 2026
In Q1 2026, at least 1,355 civilians were directly affected by violence across 9 of 10 states, a 63% increase vs Q4 2025. The Abiemnom mass casualty event (Unity State, March 2026) alone produced 194 victims. Community-based militias and/or civil defense groups remained the leading perpetrators at 67% of documented victims.
Font Specifications by Element
IBM Plex Sans · 700 Bold · 28pt / 38px · #FFFFFF
The main infographic title. Always sits in the dark header panel (#0D1F3C background). Never smaller than 24pt. Line height 1.15. Max width 65% of total header width.
IBM Plex Sans · 700 Bold · 9pt · ALL CAPS · tracking 0.12em · background: #2D6BE4
Publication month badge. White text (#FFFFFF) on blue accent. Fixed border-radius 4px. Always immediately below subtitle line.
IBM Plex Sans · 400 Regular · 9pt · rgba(255,255,255,0.65)
Bullet-pointed highlights. Key figures within running text: 500 Medium, color #7EADEE. Line height 1.6. Maximum 3 bullets of 1–2 lines each.
IBM Plex Sans · 700 Bold · 28–42pt · violation color or #FFFFFF for totals
Key Figure Indicators. Size scales with panel width. Total victims always #FFFFFF (highest importance). Individual violation types use their designated violation palette color at reduced opacity.
IBM Plex Sans Condensed · 700 Bold · 7.5pt · ALL CAPS · tracking 0.12em · rgba(255,255,255,0.4)
Caption below KFI number. Always uppercase, always tracked. Never sentence case. Color must remain at 40% opacity white — it must not compete with the KFI number above.
IBM Plex Sans Condensed · 700 Bold · 8pt · ALL CAPS · tracking 0.12em · #8898A8
Section label within the chart area. Distinguishes sub-sections (e.g., "Victims by State") from the main chart title. Always in the muted text color.
IBM Plex Sans · 400 Regular · 10pt · #4A5568 · right-aligned within fixed 90px width
State or category names beside horizontal bars. Use Condensed variant when label count exceeds 7 entries. Consistent width allocation prevents bar misalignment.
IBM Plex Mono · 400 Regular · 7pt · rgba(255,255,255,0.28)
Three footer items: Source attribution (left) · UN boundary disclaimer (centre) · Classification (right). All monospace for precision and institutional formality. Never omit the boundary disclaimer.
Standards & Common Errors
Binding constraints for all HRD data products. External designers should treat these as non-negotiable requirements, not stylistic preferences. Violating these rules will require revision.