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Knight Cities Challenge

foundation / brand identity / website

abstract digital design using angles and triangles in cyan, magenta, blue and gray with a photo of a black student inside the shapes
abstract digital design using angles and triangles in cyan, magenta, blue and gray with a photo of a black student inside the shapes

Knight Cities Challenge seeks new ideas in civic innovation

digital design of knight cities challenge logo using a geolocation pin symbol and city street lines next to the stacked name

Knight Cities Challenge provides $15 Million in grants for cutting-edge and innovative projects to make cities more successful. They wanted to create an excitement and buzz around this national initiative through a brand identity that would attract the best innovators out there. As the challenge is location-based, it was designed around the iconic map pointer and city street grid motifs.

digital design of pin shapes used as a vessel for photography

Using DNA from the existing Knight Foundation brand identity, we created a system of graphic motifs that can be used as background patterns. The pin becomes a vessel for imagery about people, cities, innovation, technology, arts and media.

schematic of the pieces from the knight foundation logo how they were used to create pattern designs
digital design of 2 rows of pins that hold various patterns in main colors
animation of pins using various colors and patterns
portrait of a white man 30s with heavy beard wearing a vest and plaid shirt next to blue city street graphic
portrait of a black man 30s wearing glasses in a gray sweater next to yellow city street graphic

A responsive website uses street grids and pins to reinforce the idea of civic innovation. Scrolling effects help create excitement about past winners and the 26 participating Knight cities.

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home page mockup inside screen of knight cities challenge website design
single page mockup inside screen of knight cities challenge website design
who should apply map with pins showing participating cities
digital design of knight cities challenge logo using a geolocation pin symbol and city street lines next to the stacked name

Deliverables:

  • Brand Identity
  • Website Design
  • Web Development
  • Print Collateral
  • Content Creation
digital design for home page that says "what's your best idea to make cities more successful?"
no idea is too big on cyan city streets graphic
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