branding & DIGITAL DESIGN
Open Research Europe (ORE) is the European Commission’s flagship open access publishing venue – developed by F1000 to provide EU-funded researchers with a compliant, transparent space to share their work. As F1000’s senior designer, I was responsible for the creation and rollout of the ORE visual identity, working directly with the EC publishing team to build a brand that aligned with the Commission’s strict visual standards while still standing on its own.
Navigating Tight Constraints with Design Clarity
Creating a sub-brand for the European Commission meant working within one of the most rigid and scrutinised brand systems in Europe. Every visual decision had to pass through layers of policy, approval, and review. The solution: a clean, modular identity system built around the “O” of “Open” – a symbol that reinforced transparency and accessibility while offering a versatile motif for UI elements, icons, and animations.
Strategic Collaboration
I worked closely with senior EC stakeholders through working sessions, reviews, and design presentations – ensuring the brand would sit comfortably within the broader "Research and Innovation" Directorate while still feeling contemporary, accessible, and purpose-built for digital-first engagement.
UX/UI Impact
Alongside branding, I led a complete redesign of the search and browse UX – the core functionality of the ORE platform. This work was so effective that it was later rolled out across all F1000 publishing platforms as a standard.
A Unified Visual Language
The visual system included subject area ‘gateways’, each requiring distinct iconography, illustrations, and editorial design elements. I created a scalable suite of icons, infographics, and social content assets, and maintained a comprehensive style guide to ensure brand consistency across all touchpoint – web, print, and social.
Key Deliverables:
Brand identity and logo design rooted in the EC’s visual language
Full style guide including UI components, social templates, and print assets
UX and UI design for the platform’s search and filtering experience
Modular subject icon and infographic systems
Digital marketing and social content design
Direct collaboration with EC stakeholders on creative approvals and strategy
This was a high-stakes, high-visibility design project, requiring diplomacy, precision, and a deep understanding of institutional branding. The result was a brand that respected its context – but still had clarity, impact, and digital fluency.