VISUALLY enhancing an established brand
THE PROJECTArnold Ventures is a philanthropy dedicated to tackling some of the most pressing and complex issues in the United States including criminal justice reform, public finance, health care, and education. The organization invests in research, advocacy, and policy solutions that deliver measurable impact. But despite the strength of its work, Arnold Ventures’ visual brand had not evolved alongside the organization’s growing influence or ambition.
Developed in 2018, the existing identity left little room to evolve. Print and digital experiences felt disconnected, programs struggled to differentiate themselves, and a highly saturated color palette unintentionally signaled partisan alignment. As Arnold Ventures expanded its use of data, video, and visual storytelling, it became clear the brand was no longer serving the work.
DISCOVERY
RESEARCH PHASEMy team began with a deep discovery process to understand both how Arnold Ventures sees itself and how it is perceived by others. We spoke to program staff, surveyed the broader Arnold Ventures team, and solicited feedback from communications partners. We also conducted a thorough audit of the existing visual system.
SOLVING PROBLEMS, BUILDING A STRONG BRAND
ENHANCING THE BRANDThe visual brand enhancement for Arnold Ventures captures the credibility, impact, and humanity of their work without visual noise or political signaling. Rooted in a flexible visual framework, the system balances evidence-based rigor with more human-centered storytelling, pairing clean, structured layouts and straightforward data visualization with authentic photography and warmer supporting elements. A refined color strategy retains the equity of their core shade of blue while introducing neutral tones and bold accents to improve clarity, accessibility, and program differentiation. The enhanced visual language is intentional and restrained, ensuring that design always enhances the message rather than competing with it, while giving teams the tools they need to communicate consistently and confidently.
CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP
TRUST & CONCEPTUALIZATIONAs Art Director, my team continued to partner closely with the AV team to roll out the refreshed visual system across core collateral, digital platforms, and programmatic materials, while serving as a strategic creative partner to support consistency, evolution, and adoption over time. Through this continued engagement, we help ensure the brand remains clear, cohesive, and adaptable as Arnold Ventures’ work and storytelling continue to grow.
Our relationship transitioned from brand partner to conceptual partner, expertly applying the brand to basic materials like ads and 1pagers, while also pushing the brand for special events and podcast series.
ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES
ROLE & SKILLS EXPRESSED IN THIS PROJECTBrand Design
Art Direction
Client Consulting & Collaboration
Merchandise Design
Print-Ready Preparation
Campaign Design
Iconography Design
Data Visualization
Systems & Structure
