Academic Interests
Areas of study, intended major, and long-term curiosity.
Student application storytelling
Student Storytelling & Visual Identity
Helping students bring their academic work, research, activities, and personal journey together through a cohesive digital experience.
A personalized visual storytelling approach designed to help students present not only what they have accomplished, but also who they are, what they care about, and how their interests have developed over time.
MC / 24
Research Field Notes
About
Environmental systems · student researcher
Maya
Chen
01Water systems
02Community fieldwork
03Climate resilience
The opportunity
Students already have meaningful stories to tell.
Students often enter the application process with a rich collection of experiences, academic work, research, activities, and personal interests.
Yet these materials usually exist separately across resumes, research papers, application forms, photo folders, and project documents.
Research & Projects
Papers, experiments, independent studies, competitions, and meaningful projects.
Activities & Leadership
Clubs, organizations, volunteering, and leadership experiences.
Personal Experiences
Photography, travel, hobbies, cultural experiences, and personal growth.
Awards & Recognition
Academic honors, competitions, certifications, and achievements.
Each piece tells part of the student’s story. The opportunity is to bring those pieces together.
Our approach
From materials to story.
The process starts by looking beyond individual documents and identifying the themes, interests, experiences, and connections that make each student distinctive.
01
Review
Resume, research, activities, projects, photos, awards, and personal interests.
02
Identify
Discover recurring themes, academic interests, personal motivations, and meaningful connections.
03
Shape
Develop a clear student narrative that connects academic work with personal growth and future direction.
04
Translate
Turn that narrative into a visual direction, content structure, and digital experience.
Starting point
Student Materials
ResumeResearch PaperActivitiesPhotosAwardsProjects
Connected narrative
Student Story
Academic FocusPersonal MotivationResearch DirectionCommunity ImpactGrowthFuture Aspirations
The goal is not simply to organize content. It is to reveal the story already inside it.
What we create
Two formats. One student story.
The initial service focuses on two complementary deliverables designed around the same student story and visual system.
Environmental EngineeringStudent profile / 01
01 / DIGITAL
Personal Academic Website
A personalized digital space that brings together the student’s academic work, research, activities, interests, and personal journey.
- Introduction
- Academic Interests
- Research
- Selected Projects
- Activities & Leadership
- Community Involvement
- Personal Interests
- Photography / Life Experiences
- Awards & Recognition
02 / EDITORIAL
Research Project Brochure
A visually designed publication that transforms an important student research project into a more accessible, polished, and engaging presentation.
- Research Question
- Background
- Methodology
- Process
- Findings
- Data Visualization
- Images
- Reflection
- Future Direction
Water / community / systems
A study of
local water
quality.
Environmental research · 2024
Findings04—09
72%
of observed sites showed measurable seasonal change.
Observation 03 / seasonal change
Two formats. One student story. One visual system.
Adaptable by design
Selected Student Website Concepts
Different students require different visual and storytelling approaches. These sample concepts demonstrate how the same framework can adapt to different academic interests and personalities.
ECWater systems / 01
Environmental
Engineering
STEM / ENVIRONMENT
Environmental Engineering
Research, sustainability, community impact, and environmental observation brought together through a science-inspired visual system.
View Website
ESSAYS / IMAGES / MEMORYBetween
places
places
14
HUMANITIES
Culture & Storytelling
Writing, cultural research, photography, and personal experiences presented through an editorial storytelling approach.
View Website
FIELD NOTES / CITY 03Urban
Studies
Studies
URBAN STUDIES
Urban Studies
Urban environments, community research, public space, photography, and social observation brought together through a contemporary editorial visual system.
View WebsiteExample student
Environmental Engineering
Imagine a student applying to Environmental Engineering with experiences across research, sustainability, community involvement, and environmental observation.
01
Student Materials
02
Key Themes
Sustainability
A consistent interest in environmental responsibility and long-term solutions.
Water Systems
Research and academic work focused on water quality and infrastructure.
Community Impact
Volunteer experiences connect environmental issues with real communities.
Climate Resilience
A broader interest in how engineering can respond to environmental challenges.
03 / Core Narrative
Using engineering to understand and solve environmental challenges that affect real communities.
04
Visual Translation
Design decisions become a visible expression of the themes already present in the student’s work.
Visual Tone
ScientificNaturalThoughtfulEditorialResearch-driven
Color Direction
#789780
#B47C52
#D9CDBB
#F6F3EB
#222A2A
Photography
- Nature
- Field research
- Environmental observation
- Community participation
Graphic Language
- Maps
- Data visualization
- Research diagrams
- Topographic references
The visual identity grows from the student’s actual story rather than being applied as a generic template.
Visual system
One Story. One Visual System.
The website and research brochure are not designed as separate projects. They are extensions of the same student narrative and visual direction.
Typography
Consistent type hierarchy across digital and print.
Color
A personalized palette derived from the student’s academic interests and story.
Photography
A consistent approach to image selection, cropping, scale, and presentation.
Layout
Shared spacing, grid, hierarchy, and editorial structure.
Graphic Elements
Icons, diagrams, patterns, data visualization, and supporting visual elements.
PERSONAL WEBSITE
SHARED
VISUALIDENTITYstory / direction / system
RESEARCH BROCHURE
The result feels like one student presented through different formats—not a collection of unrelated materials.
Why it matters
Value for students today. Opportunity for the institution tomorrow.
01
Immediate value
For Current Students
01
More Personalized Support
Provide selected students with an additional level of individualized application support.
02
Stronger Presentation
Help students present research, projects, activities, and personal interests in a more cohesive way.
03
A Home for Important Work
Create a dedicated space for meaningful work that may not fit naturally within traditional application materials.
04
Tangible Deliverables
Students and families receive professionally designed materials that can continue to be used beyond a single application.
02
Long-term opportunity
For Future Enrollment
01
Differentiated Service
Offer a service that goes beyond traditional counseling, essay support, and application preparation.
02
Premium Personalization
Create opportunities for higher-touch student services.
03
Stronger Parent Value Perception
Website and publication deliverables make the service highly visible and easy for families to understand.
04
Showcase Student Outcomes
Completed student websites and research publications can demonstrate the level of individualized support the institution provides.
05
Expandable Service Model
Once validated, the same visual system could later extend into additional student-facing materials and services.
A thoughtful next step
A more thoughtful way to help students tell their stories—and a new opportunity to offer a more personalized application experience.
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