FEILD:
Branding
CLIENT:
University of Reading
DATE:
10/3/2026
USERS:
UOR students
about.
Context / Overview
Behind the Degree is a visual identity project created to share graduate stories and show the real experiences behind university life. The project focuses on how graduates used support during difficult moments at university, helping current students feel less alone and more comfortable reaching out for help when they need it.
The identity needed to feel friendly, approachable, and trustworthy, rather than too serious or formal. Since the project is connected to university support, the visual style had to balance warmth with clarity, so students would feel safe engaging with the content.
Aim of the project
The aim of the project was to create a visual identity that could communicate support, honesty, and encouragement to students. Graduate stories could inspire current students and remind them that struggling at university is normal, and that support is available. The brand works across social media, as this is where students are most likely to see and engage with the content.
Objectives and Deliverables
Through the project, I created a small but consistent visual identity system for Behind the Degree. The main deliverables included:
A logo system
An easy-to-follow brand guideline
Editable social media templates
Together, these deliverables helped create a brand system that could be used consistently across digital platforms, especially for sharing student and graduate stories.
User needs
The main users are current university students who may be struggling or unsure about asking for support. They need the brand to feel approachable, honest, and not intimidating. The design also needs to make real stories easy to read and emotionally relatable.
The social media templates were designed to combine portrait photography, quotes, and short messages, making the content feel personal and human. This helps the project feel less like official university information and more like real voices from people who have been through similar experiences.
Thank you all for your efforts on this project, you have realised an idea that was just that at the beginning of last year – an idea to highlight student experiences whilst at university – and now you have brought it to life!
