#BRANDING
The Scenarios Forum
Dedicated to advancing the use of socioeconomic scenarios, the Forum on Scenarios for Climate and Societal Futures plays a crucial role in tackling complex, interconnected issues at a time of rapid environmental change, social transformation, and global uncertainty.
Designing the brand meant creating a visual identity that reflects its role as a leading platform for interdisciplinary dialogue on global challenges.
(01)
THE BRIEF
The Scenarios Forum has been held at major institutions, including Denver (2019), each with its own branding approach. These past events provided valuable insights into the strengths and weaknesses of previous visual identities. The challenge was to design a cohesive brand that builds on past successes while creating a fresh and adaptable look for future editions.
• Establish a recognisable and professional identity for the conference to position it as a key event in the global climate and research community.
• Enhance visibility and engagement across digital platforms, print materials, and on-site event branding to increase attendance and participation.
• Visually represent the intersection of climate, society, and future scenarios, reinforcing the forum’s mission to explore interconnected challenges.
• Ensure clarity and legibility across various applications, including websites, social media, publications, and large-scale signage.
• Create a flexible and scalable branding system that could be adapted for future forums while maintaining a consistent visual identity.
• Support sponsorship and partnership opportunities by presenting a polished, credible image that aligns with the expectations of high-profile institutions, researchers, and policymakers.
(02)
PROCESS
The branding process involved close collaboration with key stakeholders, including:
• Event organisers from the International Committee on New Integrated Climate Change Assessment Scenarios (ICONICS) and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) to align the design with the forum’s academic and research-driven mission.
• Researchers and policymakers to ensure the branding communicated the seriousness and complexity of global scenario planning.
• Marketing teams to ensure the design worked seamlessly across different media, including digital platforms, print materials, and event signage.
Through workshops and feedback sessions, we refined the design direction to create an identity that resonated with both expert and general audiences.
(03)
SOLUTION
The design solution
The Scenarios Forum 2022 branding is built around a dynamic logo system featuring overlapping circles in vibrant, high-contrast colours. These circles symbolise the intersection of diverse research disciplines, perspectives, and global challenges explored at the forum. The carefully curated colour palette conveys a sense of urgency, optimism, and collaboration, while the transparency and layering illustrate complexity, interconnectedness, and shared knowledge—all core themes of the event.
Typography reinforces the modern and authoritative identity of the brand. Transducer Bold serves as the primary typeface, chosen for its contemporary, high-impact aesthetic, ensuring strong readability across titles and branding materials. Complementing this, Franklin Gothic provides a timeless, clean, and highly legible option for body text and supporting materials. Together, these elements create a cohesive and professional visual identity that effectively communicates the forum’s mission.
This structured approach ensured that the brand effectively captured the event’s purpose, strengthened its global presence, and provided a flexible foundation for future conferences.
(03.2)
ICONOGRAPHY + WAYFINDING
Custom-designed icons were introduced to enhance wayfinding and navigation throughout the event venue. Each icon represented a specific area or function, including keynote stages, breakout discussion rooms, networking lounges, and exhibition spaces. This visual system helped attendees quickly locate sessions and created a seamless experience that aligned with the conference’s structured, research-focused approach. The icons also ensured branding consistency across signage, maps, and digital schedules.
