International Symposium for Academic Makerspaces
For ISAM 2025, where 400 makers, educators, and researchers from around the world descended for a packed multi-day symposium, I came on as Contract Designer to build the visual identity — starting with stakeholder interviews, then carrying that system across signage, print, and digital schedules with wayfinding and accessibility.
Role
Lead Designer
Disciplines
Branding, Graphic Design, Motion Design
Timeline
June - Aug. 2025
Background
ISAM — the International Symposium on Academic Makerspaces — is the biggest annual gathering for the academic makerspace world, where faculty, staff, students, and industry leaders come together to swap knowledge on how to make these spaces actually work for student learning. Hosted in 2025 by UC Berkeley's Jacobs Institute for Design Innovation, the three-day event drew 400 attendees from across the field for talks, workshops, panels, and a keynote from Mythbusters' Adam Savage.
Initiatives
As Contract Designer, I built the branding system from the ground up — then took it everywhere. That meant translating the identity into wayfinding signage to get 400 attendees from keynote to keynote, a schedule brochure dense enough to hold a three-day program without feeling cluttered, and a full lineup of merch — cups, lanyards, tote bags — that made the brand feel like something people actually wanted to carry around, not just a logo slapped on stuff.
Results
The result: a conference that felt cohesive from the moment people picked up their badge to the last reception toast — and a brand people were genuinely happy to wear home.
