vision by protiviti UX, UI, & brand
audience
C-suite/executives
role
art director, visual designer
project type
IA/information architecture, UX/user experience, UI/visual design, brand, art direction
Protiviti, a consulting firm of nearly $2B annually, sought an editorial site exploring big, transformational topics that will alter business over the next 10+ years. As the sole product designer and brand designer on the project, I was entrenched from day 1 — from overseeing the Information Architecture and wireframing to building out the brand and getting the aforementioned presented and approved by all stakeholders including Protiviti's C-suite.
challenges
- How can I balance the needs of an executive audience (compressed time, for one) with the goal of a bold visual design for a brand-new editorial site for a "Big 10" consulting firm?
- The content pages will rely on Drupal templates due to it being managed by the site writers, who are professional writers.
Visual design
As an editorial site for executives, I sought to break barriers with a design that stood out from my market research showing staid sites. I led with a novel graphic approach, rich typography, and a bold palette.
Widgets for modular content pages
For the modular content pages, which are the core of the site, it was important to build in flexibility as well as a lot of visuals to break up content, so I designed a modular template with widgets to break up the content.
Wireframes
Following alignment of the IA I built with marketing, I built out the entire experience into a medium-fidelity prototype including the homepage, main content page which is the focus of the site, the flow to the content page, as well as the tertiary pages such as the about pages.
Homepage
The editorial team sought versatility and flexibility with the types of content they'd be building. For instance, they'd be working on interviews with CEOs for which there would be a video and a companion transcript, panels with experts, and traditional content pages with flexible content areas for articles with blockquotes, photos, and other media types. I built out this modular page Content Page to accommodate all of these.
Content page
Logo
My first task of the project ultimately was to help concept a name. I recommended Vision, with the "i" and "o" as the number "10" to reinforce the forecasting relationship of a decade. I then worked with a designer on my team, George Yui, to design the logo.
Hear from the stakeholder
Samm delivered a smart, strategic and contemporary design aimed at senior executives. She struck the perfect balance between edgy and professional in her design approach, and her instincts are spot on when it comes to finding the right approach to amplify the content to meet its overall goals. She's a designer who really understands editorial, which is a bonus! In addition, Samm was an absolute pleasure to work with; she's super organized, deadline-oriented, proficient and diligent.
Joe Kornik, Director of Brand Publishing, Protiviti
Hear from other Protiviti colleagues
I knew I could call Samm when I needed strategic advice on new projects. Her quiet focus on brand excellence sets the standard as she handles any situation calmly and patiently ensuring alignment to brand. This is one person for me who has been an ideal art director. Any organization would be lucky to have Samm as part of the team.
Garry Reynolds, UK Director of Marketing, Protiviti
Samm has always impressed me with her professionalism, her ability to take any small idea and enhance it and build upon it to provide outstanding deliverables that could be used (and evolved upon).
Samm is such a talented individual and such a pleasure to work with. Thank you for all your hard work, Samm!
Cait Jensen, Brand Lead of Employee Experience, Protiviti
I consider myself fortunate that we crossed path and I had privilege to work with most talented and visionary Art Director for course of 5 years. Her ideas just lights up the entire room and her excellence towards brand understanding is remarkable. My all time to-go-person.
Samm’s direction and leadership has changed the brand standards which has not just inspired me and entire team but also shifted the dynamics of business. From designing to leadership she has mentored me throughout.
Her ability to add value and do the right thing in every possible situation has made her unique and any organisation would be lucky to have her in their leadership team.
