Synbio Branding
→ Event branding and instructional materials for 35,000+ participants in 40+ countries
- 🌐 Website
- 🛣️ Sector: Science Communication, Data
- 🧭 Team/Client:iGEM Foundation
- 📆 Timeline: 2013 to 2020 (11 months per cycle)
-
⛑️ Role:Visual Designer
UI/UX, Illustration, Web design, Front-end Support, Communications - ⚒️ Tools: Illustrator, Adobe Suite, MediaWiki, Dreamweaver
💬 Introduction
From 2013 to 2020, I worked at the iGEM Foundation, the organization behind the iGEM Competition, the largest global gathering in synthetic biology, bringing together thousands of scientists, students, and academics in the fields of biology, biomedicine, and sustainability.
I joined iGEM as an intern, but being part of a small team meant I quickly took on larger responsibilities. In 2014, as the foundation prepared for its biggest event yet, the first ever Giant Jamboree, I led the development of a new event brand to make the experience feel special. This laid the foundation for a yearly visual identity system that balanced uniqueness with consistency, ensuring each competition felt distinct while maintaining iGEM’s core values.
Beyond branding, I was responsible for updating the website and creating materials for participants and attendees. This work spanned the entire year, culminating at the major event each fall. Through this experience, I helped shape the visual language of iGEM, enhancing how the competition communicated its mission to a growing global audience.
💡 Concept
A global brand for the
world’s largest synthetic biology competition
🎯 Goal
Simple and consistent visual
identity and communications
⚠️ Considerations
Large international
audience with diverse backgrounds
Complex
scientific topics often communicated in non-native
languages
✅ Solution
A flexible branding system
that made science more accessible to all
🔧 Scope of Work
As the sole designer at iGEM, I took on a wide range of responsibilities, allowing me to refine my skills and learn on the go. While demanding at times, this experience gave me the opportunity to develop solutions across branding, communication, and logistics.
My core responsibility was the event’s
visual identity, designing banners,
posters, conference books, participant bags, and
collectible pins. I collaborated with colleagues to
coordinate printing and ensure materials were ready
on time.
I also created and maintained the
yearly and main websites on
MediaWiki making sure participants had
clear and accessible information. I
contributed to communications by drafting
announcements and publishing updates on the
website. As my role expanded, I engaged
directly with teams, especially Spanish-speaking
participants in Latin America,
offering guidance and support.
These early years set the basis for iGEM’s evolving brand. Each cycle helped me refine the visual identity and gave insights into what I could improve in the next iteration.
🎨 Event Brand
Establish iGEM’s visual
identity
Printed and digital media: banners,
posters, conference books, participant bags, and
pins
🌐 Websites
Yearly and main websites on
MediaWiki
Drafted and published announcements
🤝 Community Engagement
Support to
teams, with a focus on Latin America
🔄 Continuous Improvements
Took notes to
improve brand and personal skills
📈Iterations
Over eight competition cycles, I designed materials for 35,000+ participants across 40+ countries, directing unique yearly brands that encompassed print and digital media—including templates, brochures, icons, style guides, promotional videos, and websites. I collaborated with a multidisciplinary team of experts to create instructional materials for safe practices in synthetic biology, bridging the gap between complex scientific topics and clear, engaging visuals.
Beyond branding, I contributed to the
technical side by assisting with
coding projects, adapting website
formats, and improving information
hierarchy for better accessibility. I
also redesigned and implemented fully
responsive websites, enhancing
navigation and usability. Additionally, I introduced
multiple ways to navigate content, making it easier
for users with different learning styles to engage
with competition materials.
I developed
both an annual event branding
guide and a general brand
manual. These resources ensured a strong,
recognizable identity while allowing each year to
feel distinct. My goal was to make every iGEM year
visually cohesive yet unique,
giving returning participants a sense of continuity
while marking their experiences through evolving
color palettes, collectible souvenirs, and digital
interactions.
🎨 Visual Identity Development
Materials
for 35,000+ participants across 40+ countries
8
unique yearly brands, covering print & digital
media
Annual brand manual and a general iGEM
brand guide
🖥 Web Enhancements
Improved UI and
refined website’s visual style
Developed custom
icons and UI elements
Mobile-friendly
layouts
Structured information hierarchy
Multiple
navigation methods
Coding projects and
improved website structure
🔬 Science Communication
Instructional
materials for safe synthetic biology practices
Collaborated
with experts to make science materials
The schedule had to be able to be filtered and sorted by categories as well as being translated to different timezones
🎏 Design Highlight
The shift to a remote conference in 2020 introduced new challenges, particularly in managing multiple sessions across various time zones. This complexity became an opportunity to blend design, UI, and coding to improve the participant experience.
To address this, I developed an interactive tool using JavaScript that allowed users to navigate sessions based on their interests and convert times to their local time zones. This solution streamlined the event experience, ensuring attendees could engage with the content most relevant to them without confusion.
🌍 Outreach
Beyond design, my role evolved into advocacy, outreach, and science communication, helping expand iGEM’s presence in Latin America. As an ambassador, I supported teams in the region by advising them on how to present their projects effectively and addressing regional challenges. Through public speaking engagements, I honed my ability to communicate synthetic biology concepts to diverse audiences, making complex scientific topics more accessible.
One key achievement was helping students secure funding for their research. By improving how teams framed their projects and articulated their impact, I helped increase their chances of obtaining grants. This work led to the establishment of yearly funding for iGEM teams in Costa Rica, ensuring long-term support for synthetic biology innovation in the region.
I also focused on policy advocacy founding the Delegate Program, bringing students to UN meetings to discuss synthetic biology. Representing iGEM at 10+ international events, I engaged with stakeholders worldwide and participated in high-level policy discussions.
🎯 Regional Support
Advised teams on
project presentation
Secure yearly funding for
teams
🗣 Science Communication
Talks to make
synthetic biology more accessible
Engaged
diverse audiences through presentations and outreach
🏛 Policy Advocacy
Founded the Delegate
Program
Represented iGEM at 10+ international
events
🌟 Closing Remarks
I developed the branding system for
iGEM, balancing creativity and
consistency across eight competition cycles.
My work, spanning visual identity, web design, and
science communication, improved the clarity and
accessibility of complex topics for a global
audience.
Through the years I delivered:
-
Materials for over 35,000 participants across 40+ countries, ensuring global consistency and engagement.
-
8 unique yearly event brands, managing both print and digital media assets.
-
Annual brand manual and general iGEM brand guide for visual consistency and flexibility across events.
-
Fully-responsive websites to enhance user experience and accessibility across devices.
-
Information hierarchy to simplify the presentation of complex scientific content.
-
Represented iGEM at 10+ international events, promoting the organization’s mission and engaging stakeholders worldwide.
-
Gave talks aimed at making synthetic biology more accessible to diverse audiences, fostering understanding and collaboration.
This work laid the foundation for iGEM’s long-term impact and a growing global community.
🎯 Deliverables
Materials for 35,000+
participants across 40+ countries
8 unique
yearly brands, covering print & digital media
Annual
brand manual and a general iGEM brand guide
Improved
and Fully-responsive websites
Information
hierarchy for scientific content
Represented
iGEM at 10+ international events
Talks to make
synthetic biology more accessible
☀️ Wrap up
Personal lessons
My work at the iGEM Foundation was pivotal in shaping my career, allowing me to grow my skills; from web design and UI development to science communication and branding. I was fortunate to work with a close-knit team that supported me through all the learning curves, laying the foundation for my interest in the intersection of science, data, communication and design. This balance of creativity and pragmatism is something I look forward to continuing in meaningful work. Collaborating with students inspired me, and I feel both lucky and grateful to have contributed to the largest event in synthetic biology.
