The Open University brochure design
The Open University is one of the UK's most respected and recognised higher education institutions. When Steph, a lecturer at the OU, approached me, she and her students had been working on a significant piece of research - but the internal design team hadn't been able to present it in a way that felt clear, engaging or representative of the work involved. That's where I came in.
The Challenge
The internal concepts that had been produced were, in Steph's own words, very boring and corporate. The content was valuable and important, but the design wasn't doing it justice. The challenge was significant - the brochure needed to follow the OU's very strict brand guidelines, which left limited room to manoeuvre, while simultaneously breaking free of the corporate stiffness that those same guidelines can sometimes produce. It needed to feel vibrant and engaging without straying outside the boundaries of an internationally recognised brand.
The Solution
Working carefully within the OU's brand guidelines, I found the creative space to inject energy and personality into the layout. By making bold choices around typography, colour usage and page composition - all within the permitted parameters - I transformed the content into a brochure that felt as dynamic and interesting as the research itself. The focus throughout was on making complex academic findings accessible and genuinely enjoyable to read.
The Impact
The response from students and readers was everything Steph had hoped for. Feedback consistently described the brochure as a much needed and invaluable resource. It’s engaging, vibrant and a world away from the dry corporate document the internal team had initially produced. It's a project that demonstrates what's possible when a creative eye is applied to even the most tightly governed brand, and proof that working within constraints doesn't have to mean playing it safe.
"Lots of students tell us that it's a much needed and invaluable resource that's both engaging and vibrant." Steph Doehler, The Open University
Key Deliverables
Editorial & brochure design - a multi-page research publication designed for both digital and print distribution
Brand-compliant creativity - a design that works fully within the OU's strict brand guidelines while delivering genuine visual impact
Layout & typography - a clear, accessible structure that makes complex academic research easy and enjoyable to read