THE CHALLENGE
Northeastern University’s College of Science brings together researchers, educators, and students across the sciences, from biology and chemistry to pre-health pathways and interdisciplinary research centers. Its annual report is one of the most important ways to share that work with alumni, donors, research partners, and prospective students, along with the promotional materials that support recruitment and the college’s strategic goals.
The challenge was designing materials within a defined framework. Northeastern has strong university brand standards, and everything the College of Science produced had to feel unmistakably Northeastern. At the same time, the College wanted its own identity: a look and feel that reflected the energy of its research and reinforced its themes of connection and collaboration. Each annual report also needed to feel fresh from year to year while still reading as part of a consistent family.
INDUSTRY
Higher Education
SERVICES
Copywriting, Brand & Corporate Communications, Annual Reports
THE SOLUTION
We built the College of Science’s look on the foundation of Northeastern’s brand, keeping the signature red, the elegant serif typography, and the iconic “N.” We then expanded the palette with a supporting range of teal, orange, blue, and gold. We also used dynamic, photography-driven layouts that put students and researchers at the center of the story. Together these gave the college its own recognizable personality without ever stepping outside the university’s standards. Infographics and “by the numbers” callouts bring research and achievements to life.
Over a couple of years, we wrote and designed annual reports that built on a shared system while giving each year its own theme. We brought the same approach to the college’s promotional collateral, writing and designing a recruitment brochure that uses an oversized “N” to frame imagery and the line “Discover. Partner. Innovate.,” a strategic plan, and color-coded one-sheets for individual degree programs and pathways. From the headlines to the stories behind the data, the writing gives the research a clear, engaging voice that matches the design.
