Our work for UCD

Marketing to UCD's International Students

14 January 2010

We have created a suite of five interchangeable display stands for UCD's International Office, to be used at student recruitment events worldwide. Strong graphics and clear text establish an approachable, vibrant look and ensure that each banner works both on its own as well as when used in the complete set of five.

We used key images and graphics to help communicate the university's messages of environment, location, student opportunities for development and UCD’s international links. These banners are easy to understand and they position UCD as Ireland’s international university. Our design builds on the successful branding we have created for UCD and still gives the International Office its own individual style, appropriate for its particular audience.

We also designed and produced an integrated suite of cost-effective, user-friendly fact-sheet document templates. Constructed in Microsoft Word, these fact-sheets give the UCD International Office the flexible tools they need to customise and adapt a comprehensive library of promotional material.

2010 UCD Prospectus: back to black

29 September 2009

This year's edition of the UCD Prospectus builds on the striking design aesthetic from the previous editions yet features a number of substantial content changes which the overall design and layout needed to reflect. 

 

One of the major improvements to the content was the introduction of comprehensive visual models of the different subject areas. These diagrams illustrate to students how their courses are structured and visualise their pathways throughout their degrees as well as potential graduate study and career opportunities. It was crucial that all of this information be presented in the clearest possible format and lead students easily through the opportunities available to them. 

 

Another aspect of this year's redesign was to accommodate an expanded list of fourteen subject areas. This made the contents page into a particularly interesting design challenge. Our redesign accommodated more content than last year's prospectus while reducing the total page count by 44 pages.

 

UCD also asked us to rethink their exhibition stands for the Higher Options third-level recruitment fair at the RDS. The core design challenge was to reflect the expanded subject groupings without losing any of the stand's impact. The stands were accompanied by a number of illuminated light-box tables which featured the same typographic design treatment.

 

2009 UCD Prospectus

24 September 2008

Third time's a charm! This year's edition of the UCD Prospectus retains the same striking design style as the previous year's but has had a white facelift... a big departure from last year's black! The basic structure and content remain the same but there is a much stronger emphasis on student testimonials to impart the real university experience to prospective students. The design also accommodates an extended Arts and Science section making it much larger and more detailed than last year's publication. We also applied the new white-based colour palette to the core exhibition stand which was featured at Higher Options, the annual three-day, third-level education recruitment fair held in the RDS. 

 

UCD student recruitment portal

18 August 2008

Since the start of 2008, we have been working with UCD Recruitment to refine and enhance the user-interface, information design and presentation of content on MyUCD.ie – the university’s student recruitment portal.

This portal site serves all potential students of UCD, providing detailed course information tailored to each student's unique requirements. It also offers functionality that assists them in making final decisions regarding their choices for third or fourth level education. The primary design framework of this portal falls within the overarching template shared by all UCD web pages.

Our work began with developing the School of Science section within myUCD, we have since developed the sections for Arts and for Law. Our focus has been on reviewing and enhancing the structure of content and the presentation of information. Our key insight was to present the options available within Science in terms of degree outputs, rather than as a list of course names. Firstly, this is a student-centric perspective which aligns with their goals and ambitions. Secondly, this approach exposes the full scope of the School's offering for the first time. It delivers on outcomes.

We added a customisable grid of intriguing imagery to the main science page. Science benefits from an inexhaustible resource of beautiful and inspiring imagery. Our treatment of that main page now incorporates the three thematic subject groupings that Science have developed for their printed communications.

At the level of individual Science courses, their page layouts now includes a table explaining the choices and options across the four stages of each degree. Again, this information has proved invaluable to students and has clarified decision-making.

Implementation of our design solutions is being handled in-house by UCD, and is on-track to be completed in autumn 2008.

Fundamentally, our work has shifted the conversation away from the technicalities of the course structures and onto the fascinating and exciting aspects of science. It has allowed UCD to be passionate about science, and has translated into an per cent increase in science applications.

 

Wayfinding with a difference

15 March 2008

Building on the success of our wayfinding system for the UCD James Joyce Library on the Belfield campus, we were asked to consider what was required for the very different library of UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School Blackrock. The former chapel of Carysfort Convent, built in 1895, was converted into a library in 2006/2007. A special feature of the library are the stained glass windows, most from the studio of Joshua Clarke, father of Harry Clarke. Special challenges in the design of the signage were the need to reflect the architectural heritage of the building while providing a modern signage system.

The library space consists of a ground floor and mezzanine level. Limited available space to hang signs meant that we needed to think about how best to display information on low-level signs. We used the book shelf-ends to apply category identifiers as well as information holders for specific book sourcing. One free-standing sign, detailing the library directory, forms the main information source for all categories within the library.

In essence we have retained the main visual elements used in the James Joyce Library to ensure a consistent signage system for all UCD libraries, the interior of this library called for a more subtle, yet accessible approach in application. We applied best practice in optimum sign sizes and typography for specific viewing distances. The colourway is low-key, one which might be associated with a gallery space that is there to inform yet not distract.

The result is a striking, yet understated, signage system that fits with the subtlety of its serene surroundings.

More articles about our work for UCD

	Doing the business 07 January 2008
	UCD at Higher Options 13 October 2007
	2008 UCD prospectus 28 August 2007
	Online Course Constructor for UCD 31 July 2007
	Leaving the Terrace 21 May 2007
	Showing the way 14 April 2007
	Stick a pin in it... 21 February 2007
	UCD Graduate Studies - a set apart 11 February 2007
	Effectiveness award for UCD brand identity 10 November 2006
	Your Potential. Your UCD 08 September 2006
	The next generation at UCD 31 August 2006
	Science at UCD 14 February 2006
	A great display of engineering 28 November 2005
	Student Life 12 October 2005
	Your future. Your business. 23 September 2005
	UCD master brand 10 August 2005
	A world of engineering 14 October 2004
	Accelerate and achieve 18 June 2002
	Be part of the e-commerce generation 15 June 2001