University of Wisconsin–Madison

Inspiration

Need inspiration? This gallery showcases both the power and flexibility of the UW–Madison brand. Aligning your work with the brand provides the instant recognition and credibility of a world-class institution — and still allows lots of creative space to differentiate your campus unit.

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Office interior with a brightly painted mural of buildings, students, and UW–Madison icons.
A composite of three images: a large gray, black, white, and red mural showing UW–Madison icons, a red wall in an office with the UW crest logo, and a photo illustration on a wall depicting UW–Madison iconic imagery

Branded Workplace Design

This case study reveals how Strategic Communication transformed an ordinary office into an immersive branded environment through smart design, room names that evoke a sense of place, and a group-painted mural. The project earned a Platinum Award at the 2026 Hermes Creative Awards.
Laptop showing a website with the heading "Forward Starts with Wisconsin"
Screenshots of a website showing photos of people and buildings within an arrow motif

Marketing Campaign Assets

This integrated campaign advances UW–Madison’s peer reputation through a strategic mix of platform-spanning content. Built from a unified creative brief, it pairs cohesive messaging with a distinctive visual identity to reach key higher education audiences and reinforce that Forward Starts with Wisconsin.

The cover of Grow magazine showing three ice cubes stacked with cranberries inside of them
An open spread of a magazine with a zoomed in photo of a cranberry

Research Magazine Cover Story

This Grow magazine feature reveals how UW scientists work with growers to solve big cultivation challenges facing one of Wisconsin’s native fruit crops. Its custom photography illustrates the impact of climate change and altered freeze/thaw cycles in an engaging and dramatic way. The cover earned a first-place award from the University Photographers’ Association of America.

A marching band under spotlights
A composite of four photos showing a student smiling, the Wisconsin state capitol building, a sunset on a lake, and the interior of a building

Still/Moving Video

How do you measure a year? In visuals, of course! StratComm’s annual visual story package of the past year lives up to its name by featuring stunning, vibrant  imagery — like this compilation video that roars with campus energy.

Several pages of a brand guidelines booklet for the Wisconsin Athletics
Several pages of a brand guidelines booklet for the Wisconsin Athletics

Wisconsin Athletics Brand

Wisconsin Athletics’ refreshed brand guide contains equal parts creativity and clarity, with platform, messaging, a visual system, and design elements that are thoughtful and dazzling. The effect is both usable and inspiring.

A person marking a piece of wood with a pencil inside of a workshop
Grid of four photos showing a person working with wood in a workshop

Hudnall Woodworking Video

Cinematic storytelling and striking motion graphics converge in this feature video created for On Wisconsin magazine. Together with polished prose, the effect is to draw reader into the heart of UW–Madison’s vision. It’s a dynamic, on-brand experience that not only shows transformation but also makes you feel it.

A laptop showing a news site with a feature story
A compilation of four images showing cranberry farming scenes

Wisconet Story

Clear writing, smart layout, and thoughtfully composed photo and video elevate a statewide network of weather stations into “Smart Farming,” a cohesive narrative that engages audiences and clarifies the stakes.

Photo illustration: Scissors cutting a one hundred dollar bill; view of elderly man's back; brain scans in background; gloved hand holding a test tube
Four infographics showing NIH indirect funding statistics for UW-Madison

Alzheimers NIH Story

Research meets design excellence: our latest feature on “The Real Costs of Research Funding Cuts” shines with bespoke infographics, on-brand storytelling, and striking graphic design. Every section is crafted to engage, inform, and reflect UW’s identity. The effect? Information that’s as visually compelling as it is thoughtfully written.

Tablet device with showing images of a farm
Tablet device with showing images of a farm

Growing the Future Story

Rich visuals and grounded, accessible writing bring UW–Madison’s agricultural research stations to life. The story captures the people, places, and progress behind Wisconsin’s farming future, where innovation grows alongside tradition.

Magazine spread with a collage of images relating to the UW–Madison brand
Magazine spread with a collage of images relating to the UW–Madison brand

Alumni Magazine Feature

Appearing in On Wisconsin magazine, “Creating the Badger Brand” shares the surprising history of the UW’s world-famous logos with engaging narratives and a mix of archival and contemporary images. The story earned Milwaukee Press Club awards for both writing and design.

Three full-page ads for the Can't Stop a Badger campaign
Three full-page ads for the Can't Stop a Badger campaign

Institutional Ads

The “Can’t Stop a Badger” print ad series tells a story of the UW’s vast educational opportunities through thrilling juxtaposition. Creative photo treatment, illustration, and word play are paired with brand fonts, colors, and graphic elements. The effect is to create a distinctive set of ads that are still unmistakably UW–Madison.

Samples of various greeting cards
Samples of various greeting cards

Greeting Cards

The Office of Strategic Communication designed a set of branded greeting cards for the Office of the Chancellor. They feature iconic university imagery alongside playful branded elements, providing the perfect canvass for thank-you notes, birthday wishes, and congratulatory messages.