In 2024, the Universidad del Desarrollo (UDD) initiated a project to modernize how information was displayed on screens across its main campus. The Communications Department proposed a structure based on thematic sections to organize the content effectively, encompassing news, events, and other essential information for the university community. To bring this vision to life, the project required the creation of dynamic headers and animated content containers, tailored to each section.
The visual design was conceived with a bold and vibrant approach, featuring strong shapes and colors that moved away from traditional minimalism. This maximalist style was chosen to align with visual trends appreciated by younger generations. Each thematic section was differentiated with a unique color palette and graphic elements related to the content, such as specific icons for each category. The sections designed included “This Week at UDD,” featuring internal news highlights; “Don’t Miss Out,” promoting major events; and “Featured News,” covering national and international events. Other sections included “Videos,” with complementary animated graphics and “UDD Album,” showcasing photo galleries from events. Additionally, sections like “Safe Campus,” “Live UDD,” “UDD Sustainable,” “University Services,” and “UDD Notebook” were also developed.
Each header featured a title identifying the section, a category-specific icon, a unifying graphic element, and the campus name with a location icon. The animated content containers retained these graphic elements and colors, incorporating subtle looping animations to add dynamism without distracting from the information. Safe text areas, predefined font styles, and sizes ensured consistency and readability across all content.
Since the Communications Department uses Canva to update the information, animated headers were delivered in GIF format with transparency, ready for integration into their projects. Text-free versions were also provided to allow for future adjustments or customization for other campuses. The resource kit also included animations, grid images, and the typographies used with suggested sizes.
Tools like After Effects were used for animations, Illustrator for graphic designs and icons, and Canva for integration tests. The final result successfully modernized UDD’s visual communication with a dynamic, accessible, and adaptable design, significantly improving user experience.
