Harvard Innovation Labs

Harvard Innovation Labs is an innovation ecosystem that exists to support Harvard students and select alumni in their quest to explore the world of game-changing entrepreneurship.

I was commissioned to create a clear, flexible and consistent brand communication system for the Harvard Innovations Labs. It was key to have a unified aesthetic across varied types of marketing and media and this was achieved through a Visual Identity System thats empowers creative decision making with confidence and to reach the broader goals of building greater engagement with our audience. Harvard i-Labs’ identity is a system that combines variable and invariable components. The invariable components are: a solid grid system, typographic families and the Harvard Innovation Labs original logo. The variable items consist of a set of 13 new icons and a rich color palette. Every two months icons and palette will change based on chance. Incorporating chance into the choice of these elements produces a diverse and playful identity.

The core thirteen icons illustrate i-Labs’ “One Harvard” vision which brings together people with a wide range of backgrounds, skills and interests. The goal of this identity was to create a family of icons while keeping a clear differentiation between them. When combined, these icons allow for the creation of patterns and composite symbols that reflect i-Labs’ cross disciplinary ecosystem — a diverse community enabling strong connections through experiential learning and shared knowledge. When the identity comes to life, in animation or diagrammatically, it demonstrates the aspects above. Boldness is clear and timeless. It is a solid, yet adaptive, versatile and responsive identity.

Year: 2020
Client: Harvard Innovation Labs
Type: Art Direction & Identity

Project management: Adrian Gill & Omino Gardezi (Saints NYC)

Project in collaboration with Mariana Veloso