Project Title
Interactive Brand Portal and AI-Powered Brand Tools
Interactive Brand Portal and
AI-Powered Brand Tools
Research collaboration with The New School, Marketing & Communications Office
Research collaboration with The New School,
Marketing & Communications Office
Research collaboration with The New School,
Marketing & Communications Office
Overview
A five-week design research initiative exploring how emerging AI technologies can be responsibly integrated into institutional brand ecosystems. Conducted in collaboration with The New School’s Marketing & Communications Office, the project examined how AI can enhance brand consistency, accessibility, and creative efficiency—while upholding the university’s values of sustainability, equity, and privacy.
A five-week design research initiative exploring how emerging AI technologies can be responsibly integrated into institutional brand ecosystems. Conducted in collaboration with The New School’s Marketing & Communications Office, the project examined how AI can enhance brand consistency, accessibility, and creative efficiency—while upholding the university’s values of sustainability, equity, and privacy.
Context
The New School hosts brand resources and training materials across multiple sites. The challenge was to reimagine these scattered touchpoints as a single, intelligent brand portal—one that consolidates assets, integrates responsible AI tools, and simplifies how community members access and apply brand standards.
The New School hosts brand resources and training materials across multiple sites. The challenge was to reimagine these scattered touchpoints as a single, intelligent brand portal—one that consolidates assets, integrates responsible AI tools, and simplifies how community members access and apply brand standards.
My Role
Design Research
Design Research
System Mapping
System Mapping
AI Intergration Strategy
AI Intergration Strategy
Visual Prototyping
Visual Prototyping
Duration
5 Weeks
Team
Rebecca Sherman (Director of Design & Creative Technologies)
Rebecca Sherman (Director of Design & Creative Technologies)
Marketing & Communications Team
Marketing & Communications Team
Tools
Figma
Figma
Miro
Miro
ChatGPT
ChatGPT
Canva
Canva
Adobe Firefly (for research purposes)
Adobe Firefly (for research purposes)
Research Approach
WEEK 1-2
Benchmarking
Analyzed brand portals from MIT, RISD, and Northeastern to understand current patterns in navigation, accessibility, and asset management.
Analyzed brand portals from MIT, RISD, and Northeastern to understand current patterns in navigation, accessibility, and asset management.
WEEK 3-4
AI - Tools Evaluation
Assessed emerging AI design platforms—Figma, Canva, ChatGPT, Gemini, Firefly, Standards.site, Brandkit—through the lens of sustainability, privacy, and accessibility.
Assessed emerging AI design platforms—Figma, Canva, ChatGPT, Gemini, Firefly, Standards.site, Brandkit—through the lens of sustainability, privacy, and accessibility.
WEEK 5
System Mapping
Developed feature maps and workflows for future-ready tools such as editorial style copilots, accessibility checkers, and training-hub integrations.
Developed feature maps and workflows for future-ready tools such as editorial style copilots, accessibility checkers, and training-hub integrations.
Proposed System
AI - Assisted Components
Brand Style Bot (Q&A + Editorial Copilot)
Brand Style Bot (Q&A + Editorial Copilot)
Accessibility Checker (WCAG contrast + inclusive language support)
Accessibility Checker (WCAG contrast + inclusive language support)
Color & Logo Validator (suggests on-brand alternatives)
Color & Logo Validator (suggests on-brand alternatives)
Training Hub (centralized registration + recordings archive)
Training Hub (centralized registration + recordings archive)
Sustainability Lens
Lightweight, retrieval-based AI architecture emphasizing low-compute, privacy-first operations.
Lightweight, retrieval-based AI architecture emphasizing low-compute, privacy-first operations.
Integration Vision
Consolidates the existing Tools & Training site into a single-sign-on, mobile-friendly platform scalable across departments.
Consolidates the existing Tools & Training site into a single-sign-on, mobile-friendly platform scalable across departments.
Outcomes & Learnings
Researched and structured recommendations for an emerging product space with few precedents.
Researched and structured recommendations for an emerging product space with few precedents.
Developed an evaluation framework aligning AI integration with institutional ethics and sustainability goals.
Developed an evaluation framework aligning AI integration with institutional ethics and sustainability goals.
Refined expertise in translating speculative research into actionable design-system strategies.
Refined expertise in translating speculative research into actionable design-system strategies.
Reflection
This collaboration deepened my understanding of brand systems as living infrastructures where design, technology, and ethics intersect.
It also reinforced my belief that AI should act as a co-pilot—supporting creative integrity rather than automating it.
This collaboration deepened my understanding of brand systems as living infrastructures where design, technology, and ethics intersect.
It also reinforced my belief that AI should act as a co-pilot—supporting creative integrity rather than automating it.
(If you’re interested in learning more about this research, feel free to contact me.)
(If you’re interested in learning more about this research, feel free to contact me.)
Playing cards collector. 62 decks in, no plans to stop.
I collect playing cards.
I’m at 54 decks and counting…
Playing cards collector. 62 decks in, no plans to stop.