65 million people in U.S. coastal cities, nearly 60% people of color, all at the frontline of climate change. A coastal economy contributing $9.5 trillion to the GDP, yet woefully unprepared for nature's wrath. Solutions existed, but lay buried in the depths of dense research papers – inaccessible to the very policymakers who could implement them.
At the forefront of that change, Urban Ocean Lab — a think thank trying to fill the gap of accessible climate solutions for the future of costal cities.
Their mission: to bridge the chasm between cutting-edge coastal research and actionable policy. Their challenge: a website as difficult to navigate as storm-tossed waters. Urban Ocean Lab's outdated website failed to reflect their crucial work in coastal resilience.
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We embarked on a strategic transformation, refreshing the logo while maintaining brand recognition. The visual palette expanded beyond blue to include greens and oranges, reflecting oceanic diversity and custom icons were created to embody Urban Ocean Lab areas of focus.
With this comprehensive rebrand, we delivered new brand guidelines, a Figma-based social media kit, and a redesigned website with custom CMS.
Partnering with Infogr8, we constructed a digital hub that's more than just a website – it's a lighthouse for coastal resilience. Searchable policy solutions transformed complex information into accessible insights, tailored for time-pressed policymakers navigating the stormy seas of climate action.
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Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson,
Co-Founder of Urban Ocean Lab
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The Resource Hub launched in September 2024, and already contains more than 200 resources. It is visited by 2k visitors monthly. Early indicators show policymakers aren't just dipping their toes – they're diving in, learning about new strategies to fortify their coastal communities.
The visual identity allowed Urban Ocean Lab to quickly produce new content in the form of social media assets and policy reports. Their instagram grew by +10% in 8 months.
Urban Ocean Lab has emerged as the North Star for coastal resilience, guiding communities through the choppy waters of climate change with informed, actionable strategies. In the race against rising seas, they're no longer just treading water – they're leading the charge.
With huge thanks to Sheetal, Alex, Ayana, and the whole Urban Ocean Lab team for being such hard-working and considerate clients working towards a better future.
Brand Design
Gabrielle Merite
Emma Fanning, Little Fox Design
Icon Design
Emily Johnston, Artio Design Co
Web Design
Gabrielle Merite
Emma Fanning, Little Fox Design
Account Management
Stewart Pickering
Project Management
Josephine Brown
Development
David Bumbeishvili
Mariam Tsutskiridze
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