Institute of Education Sciences (IES) Longitudinal Studies

Role: Senior Art Director (as an agent of StratComm Inc, Natick MA)
Scope: Concept Design, Print and Web Design, Illustration, Marketing Collateral.

Summary: The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) conducts longitudinal studies to track students and individuals over time, collecting data on their development, education, and life outcomes. These studies offer critical insights into how variables such as family background, school policies, and community resources impact learning and achievement.

My work for IES encompassed concept development, the design of the data collection portal, and a suite of marketing materials. This included direct mail campaigns, brochures, and other promotional assets—each designed to clearly communicate the purpose and value of the studies to diverse audiences, including educators, policymakers, and participants.

Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study

Visit the BPS 20/25 Web Portal

The study: The Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study tracks approximately 29,000 individuals who began their postsecondary education in the 2019–20 academic year. The study gathers detailed information from both current and former students on their educational progress, workforce experiences, earnings and expenses, family status, and personal and professional goals.

Concept and execution: To support this study, I developed a distinct graphic identity centered around custom illustration. This approach offered the flexibility to tailor artwork to various formats while representing a diverse range of participants and career paths. The illustrated style also provided an approachable and cohesive visual language that could be easily adapted across multiple touchpoints.

Deliverables: Deliverables included a secure data-collection web portal, an informative marketing brochure, and a series of targeted postcards. Each postcard featured incentive-based messaging and was designed to encourage participation while maintaining a high standard of data security and visual consistency across the campaign.

Brochure cover and inside

Baccalaureate and Beyond Longitudinal Study

The study: The Baccalaureate and Beyond Longitudinal Study is a national research initiative tracking approximately 25,000 graduates from U.S. colleges and universities. Participants are asked to share their experiences during the four years following the completion of their bachelor’s degrees, providing insight into post-graduate education, career paths, and life outcomes.

Concept and execution: To visually represent the breadth and diversity of the study’s participants, I developed a family of graphic illustrations featuring hands holding tools that symbolize various professional and academic disciplines. This inclusive, metaphor-driven concept created a flexible visual language that could be extended across all campaign materials while reinforcing the study’s focus on real-world experience and diversity.

Deliverables: Key deliverables included the design and development of a secure, data-collection web portal, an informational marketing brochure, and a series of personalized postcards. Each postcard featured tailored messaging and participation incentives, designed to encourage engagement while maintaining data security and trust.