Blue Marble has been a key partner throughout the development of the product/Ux and brand communications for both EdReady and its parent organization (NROC) going back over 12 years…learn more.
Inter-Fluve, Inc. | Accentuating the design and restoration of rivers
Accentuating the design and restoration of rivers
A brand refresh for a cutting-edge interdisciplinary engineering firm
Examples from the Style Guide
CHALLENGE
Inter-Fluve is an interdisciplinary firm specializing in investigations, design, and restoration of rivers, lakes, and wetlands. As pioneers in their field, they develop solutions to complex aquatic challenges while balancing human and environmental needs. With over 1,600 successful projects across 4 continents and all regions of the United States, Inter-Fluve is challenged to communicate the depth and breadth of their excellent work.
The firm had worked with Blue Marble in 2013 on a variety of printed materials. Inter-Fluve used the guidance and design tools we provided for five years, then engaged our services again in 2019. The above images show a few examples from an extensive body of work, including InDesign templates for long proposals and the company’s Statement of Qualifications.
Results
Inter-Fluve marketing staff have a variety of new tools and skills at their disposal. The firm looks forward to strong growth while also staying true to their roots.
Original fish and milestones vector illustrations by Maisie Richards of Inter-Fluve (reconfigured and stylized by Blue Marble)
“Clients and employees have been impressed with our materials. BMC did a great job in completing what we asked of you. The templates are elegant yet simple; they make the company look good. Just as important, I think they make employees feel proud of the product they are creating.
– Jonathan Graca, Marketing and Field Technician, Inter-Fluve
Evergreen Education Group | Keeping pace with K-12 digital learning
Evergreen Education
Keeping pace with the changing K-12 digital learning landscape
CHALLENGE
Keeping Pace with K-12 Digital Learning is an annual report that examines the status of K-12 online education across the United States. Schools, districts, nonprofits, government, and companies rely on the Keeping Pace annual report and website to pinpoint key challenges and see overarching trends. With so much information to convey, Evergreen Education Group has worked with Blue Marble over the past seven years to enhance the visual presentation of this annual report. Every year we make incremental improvements to make this important body of research more accessible to diverse audiences.
INSIGHT
Knowing that the visual presentation of the data in the Keeping Pace report is nearly as important as the data itself, Blue Marble has taken part in numerous discussions with Keeping Pace authors. We introduced new design concepts for maps, charts, and tables to make the information easier to digest and share — in print and digital formats. Developing these visual tools requires a high level of collaboration between Blue Marble and the report’s authors and stakeholders. In addition, with so many rapid changes happening in the field of online and blended learning, the Keeping Pace printed report quickly becomes dated. A website with a customized content management system and integrated blog allows Evergreen staff to easily disseminate their research, keep information up to date, and share their expertise throughout the year.
RESULTS
Making information fresh and accessible
Evergreen Education Group has redefined the way information is conveyed in K-12 online and blended learning.
Infographics are now an anchor of the Keeping Pace annual report and website, and are used in presentations, classes and more.
Interactive maps on the Keeping Pace website feature up-to-date information.
Reports and infographics are available for free download and easy sharing.
A fully integrated blog has given Evergreen staff a platform on which to build their thought leadership, expand their reach and allow experts to share relevant news and resources on an ongoing basis.
FORGING AHEAD
For many years, we've worked with the Keeping Pace research team to distill the key findings and transform them into compelling stories. Whether the stories are told through graphics, case studies, or other narrative styles, Blue Marble helps ensure that Keeping Pace delivers rich, compelling content that’s freely available in both print and digital channels.
In 2015 the authors of Keeping Pace decided to shift the focus completely from text to data visualization. We created a significantly greater number of infographics and adjusted the layout to bring in more white space. The result is a visually compelling presentation of data-rich information throughout the whole of the 2015 report; a change that has been positively received by audiences.
CLIENT
Evergreen Education Group
SERVICES
Website design and development
Print and digital publication
FOCUS
“Blue Marble has become an indispensable part of our team, providing strategic creative thinking, graphic design and website development. They have given us a professional, creative look and their work is consistently complimented by our clients.”
– John Watson, founder of Evergreen Education Group
US Forest Service | More than just a trail
More than just a trail
Building stakeholder engagement through elegant design
CHALLENGE
The last time stakeholders in the development and maintenance of the Florida National Scenic Trail sat together to discuss goals was 1986 when collaborators created the original Comprehensive Plan. Priorities and personalities shifted in the ensuing years until it became clear it was necessary to bring together land holders, trail managers and local conservation groups in order establish new priorities and create a strategy for the near-term evolution of the Trail. Conservation Impact facilitated the convening of stakeholders and managed the creation of a new 5-year strategic plan for the Florida National Scenic Trail.
The strategic plan is a landmark document that provides a framework for focused, collaborative efforts and allocates resources to achieve specific results that benefit both the trail and trail user. The plan also presents a new partnership model that fully engages a diverse group of land managers who are connected to the trail. In order to bring the concepts presented to life and ensure the information would be read, the project team hired Blue Marble to come up with a thoughtful design for its layout.
INSIGHT
To appeal to a wide variety of constituents, the strategic plan needed to look less like a government white paper and more like a feature in an issue of National Geographic. To that end, we emphasized beautiful photography and lots of white space to evoke the ambience of the trail as it traverses the Florida coast and inland the expanse of its open spaces. We also incorporated a variety of staff and trail-user photos which gives readers a sense of personal connection and ownership. The publication's landscape orientation connects with the impressive length of the trail but more importantly maximizes optimal readability on screen.
RESULTS
As a printed brochure, the Florida National Scenic Trail Strategic Plan makes the work that has been done tangible for stakeholders. Digital versions of the plan have been widely distributed making it easy to share pertinent information among the partner entities and keep the public engaged. Elements of the brochure have since been used as visual references when providing progress updates.
The World Bank | A plan for transformation through tourism
A plan for transformation through tourism
Harnessing tourism for growth and improved livelihood
CHALLENGE
After two years of intensive research and data compilation, the World Bank’s Africa Region Finance and Private Sector Development Unit had devised a strategy for tourism development in Sub-Sahara Africa in an effort to: formalize its involvement in tourism in Africa, create a framework for future interventions, and prioritize tourism-related activities. To garner support and funding from the World Bank’s key internal and external stakeholders, the research team needed to succinctly explain their findings and recommendations in a format easily accessible to The World Bank’s Africa-based staff and partners.
INSIGHT
Through a series of work sessions with the research team, Blue Marble helped to identify the project’s key messages and explored various ways to present them. After several iterations of data visualizations and story sequencing, we developed a shared understanding of the story and how best to tell it. A strong visual identity for the project and a series of graphics to represent core findings were critical components for building awareness of the work and explaining complex ideas that might otherwise be lost in cultural translation.
RESULTS
Confidently building stakeholder engagement
- The body of work that the research team produced was packaged into a compelling story from which a presentation, printed brochure and one-sheet were produced. These materials have made the research and resulting strategy accessible to a large number of people that would not otherwise be exposed to or understand the lengthy report.
- The research team is able to share their recommendations in a universal format with multiple audiences who have different cultural perspectives.
- A visual articulation of the strategy has made core concepts tangible and enabled the research team to gain support for the implementation of their plan.
FORGING AHEAD
For the last several years, the Africa Tourism Strategy team has continued to promote its work and publish updated recommendations and findings as the project evolves. As part of a promotional campaign for AFTFP Tourism's recently released book entitled "Tourism in Africa: Harnessing Tourism for Growth and Improved Livelihoods," we created an informational booklet and one-pager which was shared at the United Nations World Tourism Organization's 2013 General Assembly.
CLIENT
The World Bank
SERVICES
Multimedia campaigns
Print and digital publication