Columbia World Projects

How a metaphor evolved into a distinctive brand identity

Problem

After weeks of exploration, we did not have a design direction that everyone aligned on. During a design review with stakeholders, a metaphor for the brand was brought up in the deep discussion.

Solution

The organization was compared to a thread, with many weaving and intertwining parts coming together to create a stronger, cohesive unit. Inspired by this metaphor, I immediately began sketching ideas. The thread concept was first created in the background of the image and then carried throughout the rest of the brand. The clients loved it.

Result

With a clear understanding of the brand identity, we developed a dynamic brand and full-bleed sensibility to capture the progressive, open-ended nature of their work. The diverse color palette and logotype indicate the organization’s position within the university while expressing their independence and reach.

Through stakeholder interviews and user research, we discovered that audiences didn’t understand Columbia World Projects’ mission, process, or relationship to the university. To address this, we oriented visitors with a flat site architecture that uses easy-to-understand language to categorize key areas.