The Challenge

Yale Ventures opened its new home at 101 College Street in 2024 — a sleek, modern facility that felt like a blank canvas. We were originally brought in to curate art for the space. But as we dug into Yale's ecosystem, we realized the most compelling material was already there, buried in lab notebooks, research papers, and decades of institutional history. The space didn't need decoration. It needed a way to make an invisible network visible.

The Concept

A conversation with a neuroscientist-turned-DJ sparked the core idea: innovation at Yale works like a biological synapse — non-linear, unpredictable, firing between people and disciplines that aren't supposed to connect. We built the entire system around this metaphor, organized into four pillars that can grow and update over time: History, Spaces, People, and Stories.

The Challenge

Yale Ventures opened its new home at 101 College Street in 2024 — a sleek, modern facility that felt like a blank canvas. We were originally brought in to curate art for the space. But as we dug into Yale's ecosystem, we realized the most compelling material was already there, buried in lab notebooks, research papers, and decades of institutional history. The space didn't need decoration. It needed a way to make an invisible network visible.

The Concept

A conversation with a neuroscientist-turned-DJ sparked the core idea: innovation at Yale works like a biological synapse — non-linear, unpredictable, firing between people and disciplines that aren't supposed to connect. We built the entire system around this metaphor, organized into four pillars that can grow and update over time: History, Spaces, People, and Stories.

The Execution

We designed a modular visual system that scales from a massive entryway mural to a small office label:

  • The Spiral Timeline: A non-linear journey built to add future "sparks" as the ecosystem evolves.

  • Physical Interaction: 52 lenticular cards that animate as visitors walk past, turning dense data into a tactile experience.

  • Holographic Materiality: References to microscopic slides and cosmic imaging that make the space look different with every visit.

  • Emotional Science: Visual treatments that translate complex research into art that people can actually feel a connection to.

Impact

The system became the defining visual signature of Yale Ventures from opening day — the first thing visitors see and the thing they remember. Faculty began requesting prints of the research posters for their own labs, which was never part of the original scope. Yale Ventures adopted the visual language across their events and communications, turning a spatial design project into a living brand system. And because every element is modular, the system keeps expanding as new research, people, and stories enter the ecosystem.

Next project.
Next project.

2vs.ALL: Building a Modern Mythology

Turning a decade of creative world-building into a structured, distributable brand universe. We acted as the strategic partner for the high-growth content ecosystem.

2026

Brand Identity

Next project.
Next project.

2vs.ALL: Building a Modern Mythology

Turning a decade of creative world-building into a structured, distributable brand universe. We acted as the strategic partner for the high-growth content ecosystem.

2026

Brand Identity

Innovation Synapse: Mapping the Yale Ecosystem

We were brought in to design the environmental experience for Yale Ventures' new 10,000 sq ft headquarters. We discovered a rich history of innovation hidden in archives and lab notebooks that deserved to be seen. Inspired by the biological synapse, we designed a modular visual system that maps Yale’s network and grows alongside it. What began as a spatial project evolved into part of the visual identity of Yale Ventures

Year

2025

Year

2025

Client

Yale Ventures

Client

Yale Ventures

Timeline

8 weeks

Timeline

8 weeks

Innovation Synapse: Mapping the Yale Ecosystem

We were brought in to design the environmental experience for Yale Ventures' new 10,000 sq ft headquarters. We discovered a rich history of innovation hidden in archives and lab notebooks that deserved to be seen. Inspired by the biological synapse, we designed a modular visual system that maps Yale’s network and grows alongside it. What began as a spatial project evolved into part of the visual identity of Yale Ventures

Year

2025

Client

Yale Ventures

Timeline

8 weeks