Unifying science comms with a design system
OUR SERVICES:
STRATEGY & PLANNING
STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS
INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
VISUAL IDENTITY DESIGN
BRAND GUIDELINES
DIGITAL DESIGN SYSTEM
DEVELOPMENT
The Riverscapes Consortium (RC), a collective of scientists dedicated to promoting healthy riverscapes, approached us to create a cohesive visual identity and a customized digital design system.
With over 20 websites, applications and data models, they needed a unified design system that would strengthen their brand while maintaining the distinct identity of each sub-brand.
PROJECT GOALS
- Develop standardized design elements and branded templates supported by comprehensive documentation
- Develop a robust visual identity system, balancing brand-wide consistency and sub-brand flexibility
- Ensure successful deployment of a design system across 20+ existing websites
- Accommodate diverse stakeholder content and maintenance needs
Riverscapes Consortium brand assets
Riverscapes Consortium apps and models (sub-brands) logos
Approach & solution
We delivered a versatile brand and a design system that has empowered the consortium's distributed team to maintain brand consistency independently, across all touchpoints.
Discovery & strategy
We began with an audit of the current brand, existing design assets, as well as comprehensive stakeholder interviews to understand the consortium’s vision, technical requirements, and communication goals. This research phase helped us identify common patterns, unique needs across different user groups, and a strategy for developing a fresh yet flexible brand and design system.
Visual identity development
Working closely with stakeholders, we created: a flexible primary brand identity; complementary sub-brands for applications and data models; and a bold colour palette and typography system.
Design system customizations & development
Working with the Material UI as our base, we developed a customized visual design layer and supported the implementation of the design system through a React theme using Gatsby and markdown.
Through this systematic approach, we helped the Riverscapes Consortium transform their fragmented digital presence into a cohesive ecosystem that communicates their mission more effectively and supports their growing network of scientists and researchers.