SU Disability Research Hub: Creating a Relational Identity for Research and Lived Experience

The Stellenbosch University Disability Research Hub is a research initiative dedicated to advancing disability scholarship through collaboration between researchers, practitioners, and people with lived experience. Our brief was to develop a distinctive identity that could communicate this relational ethos while remaining appropriate for an academic environment.

Industries

Higher Education
Academic Research
Social Sciences

Challenge

The challenge was to create a logo that visually expresses connection and relationality without relying on literal symbols or institutional clichés. The identity needed to resonate across academic, community, and research contexts while remaining calm, credible, and accessible. It also needed to function primarily in digital environments, where the Hub’s website and communications will be the main public-facing platform.

What we did

Designed a distinctive triadic symbol representing connection and convergence between research, community, and lived experience, expressed through an organic form that suggests relational movement and collaboration.
Developed a refined colour palette anchored by deep green, terracotta, and warm gold tones, creating a balance between academic credibility and human warmth.
Crafted a digital-first gradient system that allows the colours to converge at the centre of the symbol, reinforcing the concept of collaboration and shared knowledge.
Paired the symbol with the Inter typeface to provide a modern, highly legible typographic foundation suitable for research communications and digital platforms.

Client

Stellenbosch University Disability Research Hub

Project Date

2026