University of Vermont Water Resources Institute
The University of Vermont’s Water Resources Institute (WRI) engaged Syron Design to refine its strategic plan, elevate its visual identity, and strengthen its ability to communicate with researchers, partners, and donors. The Institute needed a refreshed brand foundation that reflected its mission: driving progress toward a sustainable, just, and resilient water future. Syron Design provided strategic consulting, brand development, photography and videography, and donor-engagement support designed to amplify the Institute’s impact across the state and region.
The Challenge
Vermont’s water system is an interconnected ecosystem—mountain headwaters, rivers, wetlands, and Lake Champlain. The Institute’s brand identity needed to communicate this complete system while also capturing the University’s leadership in forward-thinking research, environmental stewardship, and scientific collaboration.
The visual challenge was clear: create a brand that feels both grounded in place and active in purpose—scientific, progressive, and holistic.
The Approach
Brand Identity & Spiritmark Development
To express the complexity of Vermont’s water systems, we designed a spiritmark composed of layered elements representing mountains, flowing tributaries, and lake basins. Its upward motion and graphic energy convey momentum, scientific progress, and the Institute’s commitment to a resilient water future.
Photography & Videography
Syron Design conducted a series of photo and video shoots across Vermont to capture the diversity of:
This robust asset library now serves as a foundation for future communications, proposals, presentations, and donor outreach.
Donor Engagement & Public Outreach
To help strengthen the Institute’s relationship with donors, businesses, and the broader public, Syron Design developed a targeted engagement strategy. This included a series of social media marketing spots designed to promote “Talks and Walks”—public events that showcased the Institute’s research and offered opportunities for participants to meet scientists, explore field sites, and begin meaningful dialogue with potential donors.
These campaigns helped position WRI as an accessible, community-centered hub of knowledge and environmental leadership.
Outcome
The refreshed brand system, strategic alignment, expanded visual library, and donor-engagement tools have positioned the University of Vermont Water Resources Institute as a more recognizable, compelling, and impact-ready organization. With a unified voice and visual identity, the Institute can more effectively share its research, advance its mission, and build the partnerships required to protect Vermont’s water resources for generations to come.
CLIENT:
Somebody
DATE:
July 28, 2016
CATEGORY:
App Development
Our Projects
Below, find the collection of all projects WRI that Syron Design has worked on:
