A water-drop, microscope-lens-shaped logomark set inside a wavy pattern of concentric orange and blue lines, on a flat peach background.

Research Core Facility

case study

Visual systemBranding

A visual identity system for a university microscopy and flow cytometry core facility: a water-drop, lens-shaped logomark and a warm peach-to-navy gradient palette carried across the brochure, wall signage and instrument documentation researchers rely on. The brochure introduces the facility's Nikon AXR confocal microscope and Cytek Aurora spectral flow cytometer, and states its mission to support multidisciplinary research across the university.

The problem

Researchers moving between instruments met mismatched signage, handwritten notes taped above the microscopes, and manuals with no shared visual language — every touchpoint looked like it belonged to a different lab.

The solution

One warm gradient design system, carried across every format a researcher encounters — wall signage, brochures, login cards and training manuals — so the whole facility reads as a single, considered environment.

Branding

Brand specification board in three columns. Logo: the water-drop, microscope-lens mark alone, and as a horizontal lockup reading "Microscopy and Flow Cytometry / Center for Research Support" with the M, F and C highlighted in orange. Color pallet: six swatches — peach #EFA974, lavender #9B9EC6, navy #2D4989, burnt orange #BF5700, periwinkle #8096D9 and near-black #0E0C0D — plus a gradient bar sweeping peach to navy. Typography: Franklin Gothic Demi and Franklin Gothic Book, each with an "Aa" sample.

Brochure

A photographed tri-fold brochure mock-up, folded and open, on a lab bench with equipment in the background. The open panels show the Center for Research Support logo lockup, the line "Microscopy and Flow Cytometry — State-of-the-art technology and expert support for all types of research," contact information, a panel on the Nikon AXR Confocal Microscope with NSPARC, a panel on the Cytek Aurora Spectral Flow Cytometry System, and an Our Mission panel describing multidisciplinary research support.

Signage & communication

Three photographs side by side: an acrylic wall sign reading "Nikon AXR-NSPARC Confocal Microscope" outside a lab door; a laptop on a desk with a tent-card sign showing login and password details; and an acrylic poster reading "Nikon AXR Launch Event" with a date, schedule and QR code.