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Paying homage to print bulletins in the design system for AKO Storytelling Institute

A poster stuck on a grey concrete wall which is in bright natural light. The poster reads 'UAL AKO Storytelling Institute, Where creative practice meets social transformation, explore our work'. The poster has 2 images and the text flows around the images to frame them.
  • Written byBrand and Creative Services, UAL
  • Published date 14 April 2023
A poster stuck on a grey concrete wall which is in bright natural light. The poster reads 'UAL AKO Storytelling Institute, Where creative practice meets social transformation, explore our work'. The poster has 2 images and the text flows around the images to frame them.
AKO Storytelling Institute launch poster, 2023 | Design direction: Creative, UAL; Photograph: Rosie Stephenson

The AKO Storytelling Institute is a new institute for University of the Arts London (UAL). Developing the discipline of purpose-led storytelling; the institute is a space where artists, performers and designers from a range of disciplines can come together to challenge policies on climate and ecology, as well as questions of economic, social and racial justice.

The Insitute was launched in October 2022, with a launch event at the Linbury Foyer in the Royal Opera House. The Brand and Creative Services team at UAL were briefed to design the visual direction for the launch of the new institute, inspired by their ethos and key goals.

Launch of AKO Storytelling Institute

The design process

The creative direction for the AKO Storytelling Institute takes inspiration from the visual language of fast-paced modern news outlets, with a nod to traditional print bulletins, as well as modern research centres, publications and creative collectives. Horizontal lines provide a framework encouraging dynamic layouts of text and image, allowing the visuals to create new narratives. A notion of ‘reading between the lines’ comes to mind through the visual direction, conceptually reflecting the approach of the institute.

This Design System was built through a collaborative process including workshop and feedback sessions with members of the institute.

Digital screen with text 'Our new AKO Storytelling Institute'
AKO Storytelling Institute digital screen | Design direction: Brand and Creative Services, UAL
5 printed booklets laid out in a fan on a concrete floor. The booklets read 'UAL AKO Storytelling Institute, where creative practice meets social transformation' and they have a yellow insert hanging over the top of the front page.
AKO Storytelling Institute launch booklet, 2022 | Campaign design direction: Brand and Creative, UAL
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    AKO Storytelling Institute digital screen | Design direction: Brand and Creative Services, UAL
  • PHT_151022_In-Press_309.jpg
    AKO Storytelling Institute launch event, Royal Opera House, October 2022 | Photograph: David Poultney
  • Phone-mockup-03.png
    AKO Storytelling Institute fellowship callout Instagram story | Design direction: Brand and Creative Services, UAL
  • PHT_151022_In-Press_247.jpg
    AKO Storytelling Institute launch event, Royal Opera House, October 2022 | Photograph: David Poultney

Meet the design team

The Creative Services team is made up of UAL alumni, recent graduates and current students. We are one half of the Brand and Creative Services team and sit within the Communication and External Affairs department based at High Holborn. We also work with designers through Arts Temps, our university recruitment agency and jobs board, giving UAL students and alumni the opportunity to work within our team on temporary contracts.

Stephanie Feather she/her/hers  
Creative direction 
Design Lead, Brand and Creative Services  
2008 BA Graphic Design, Central Saint Martins, UAL

Lily Forbes she/her/hers  
Concept design and co-ordinator 
Junior Graphic Designer, Brand and Creative Services  
2020 BA Graphic Design Communication, Chelsea College of Arts, UAL

Lila Meyer she/her/hers  
Campaign artworker 
Graphic Designer (Arts Temps), Brand and Creative Services  
2022 MA Graphic Communication Design, Central Saint Martins, UAL

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