Clarifying a 10-year strategic plan for a Top 25 university

Problem

In 2022, we began a collaboration with The Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis with the goal of clarifying key messages of the its ten-year strategic plan. Focused on collaboration, impact, and distinction, the plan would be presented to the university’s Board of Directors, but needed succinct, engaging visual communication of four key areas of impact to resonate with these key stakeholders.

Action

To elevate the plan’s key messages and ensure they would resonate; we led an interactive discovery session with The Sam Fox School faculty and staff. Building on the group’s passion, we created an evocative representation of the 2022–2032 strategic plan initiatives through an iterative and collaborative artistic process.

Result

The final visual has an abstract poster-like quality with hand-crafted elements, reflecting the distinct style and vision of the school and its communities. Although presented as a unified structure in one infographic, the deliverable can be broken down into the four key areas of impact (Digital Transformation in Art, Architecture, and Design; Leadership in Sustainable Practices; Core Investments for Success; Strengthening Local, National, and Global Communities)