Gladstone’s 40th Anniversary Year

Challenge

In 2019, Gladstone Institutes marked its 40th anniversary with a year-long series of events, including symposiums, lectures, and a celebratory dinner for major donors. The milestone was an opportunity to spotlight Gladstone’s scientific achievements and strengthen relationships with both the scientific community and philanthropic supporters.

The primary goal was to create a cohesive and engaging visual identity for the anniversary that would unify the events under a single brand, raise visibility, and support fundraising efforts by appealing to diverse audiences across disciplines.

Solution

I led the visual design for the anniversary campaign, creating a distinct identity that unified all events under a single, recognizable look. I designed a custom emblem where the “4” and “0” became a graphic frame for a motif I developed called the “pathway to discovery”—a visual representation of scientific exploration and progress.

Working across digital and print formats, I applied this motif throughout the year’s materials, including event signage, email campaigns, symposium branding, and street banners. My design approach ensured visual continuity while allowing flexibility to tailor assets for different audiences, from researchers to major donors.

Outcomes

The anniversary branding created a strong and cohesive presence across all materials, helping to unify multiple events and initiatives throughout the year. It contributed to increased engagement from both donor and scientific audiences by making the events feel part of a larger, purpose-driven celebration.

The design system was successfully applied to two major symposiums, a high-profile donor dinner, internal communications, external media, promotional giveaways, building signage, and a print ad campaign—demonstrating the flexibility and reach of the identity across channels.