Polly Bond entry 2026
Category: Visual Arts / Layout
No Place to Call Home
Cover page for the Spring 2025 edition of the Delaware Communion Magazine
Goals: The goal of the No Place to Call Home cover design was to reflect faithful visual witness to the lived reality of homelessness as experienced by real people within our diocesan community. With the image of Wilson—an individual interviewed for the article—the cover was designed to move the reader beyond abstraction and statistics into relationship, presence, and recognition.
By portraying Wilson seated on stairs inside a church hall on a cold evening, holding his phone, with simple signs of care beside him—a cup of coffee, cookies, and his bag—the cover visually reflects the article’s themes of vulnerability, survival, and dignity. The inclusion of Wilson’s own words, “I’m not ashamed, I’m homeless,” was intentional, allowing him to speak for himself and claim his humanity without apology. Ultimately, the goal was to draw readers into the article through honesty and reality, inviting reflection on homelessness as a communal concern, and on the Church’s call to respond with compassion.
Audience: The primary audience for this cover includes readers of The Delaware Communion, particularly clergy, parish leaders, and lay members engaged in outreach, formation, and justice ministries. A secondary audience includes community partners and readers beyond the Church who are concerned with homelessness, social justice, and compassionate responses to poverty.
The cover was designed to speak across perspectives—inviting empathy from those familiar with homelessness and awakening awareness and reflection in those encountering these stories more directly for the first time.
Summary: The Spring edition cover of The Delaware Communion visually introduces the article No Place to Call Home through a direct and intimate portrayal of Wilson, one of the individuals experiencing homelessness who was interviewed during the reporting process. The photograph captures a quiet, human moment: Wilson sitting on the steps inside a church hall during a cold evening, eating cookies, holding his phone, with coffee and his belongings close at hand.
Rather than depicting homelessness as distant or anonymous, the layout places Wilson within a sacred space, underscoring the article’s exploration of hospitality, dignity, and the Church’s role as refuge. His quote, “I’m not ashamed, I’m homeless,” anchors the design and reframes the narrative—challenging stigma while affirming personal worth.
The cover’s layout and honest imagery invite readers into the story with respect and attentiveness, preparing them for an article that centers lived experience, faith, and moral responsibility.
Metrics: Effectiveness was measured through reader engagement and qualitative response. The cover generated strong informal feedback, with readers noting the impact of seeing a named individual and hearing his voice directly through the quoted statement.
The design’s success was reflected in its ability to humanize the article’s subject and deepen emotional connection.