Embedding accessibility in a brand
Accessibility should be an integral part of how an organisation communicates, not something considered at the end of the design process.
At the City of Boroondara, I led accessibility improvements to Council's Brand and Design Style Guide and Signage Style Guide, helping establish clearer standards for inclusive design across communications and public spaces. This experience was instrumental in my recruitment to Burnet Institute, where I was brought on specifically for my accessibility expertise.
Building on this work, my focus at Burnet was to strengthen the accessibility and consistency of its visual communications, while making the brand easier to understand and apply across the organisation.
I led a review of Burnet's visual identity, informed by an independent accessibility audit conducted by Vision Australia. The review considered colour contrast, typography, information hierarchy, layout and the application of the brand across print and digital communications.
Drawing on these findings, I refined the brand's visual identity, expanded its colour palette to include accessible digital variations and approved colour combinations, and updated the brand guidelines to provide clear, practical direction. I also developed accessible branded templates and worked with internal teams and external creative suppliers to build capability and embed accessibility into everyday creative practice.
The result is a more accessible, consistent and practical brand system that supports inclusive communication across the Institute. Together, these projects demonstrate my approach to accessibility as an ongoing commitment, built into the foundations of a brand rather than treated as a separate design requirement.
Organisations: Burnet Institute / City of Boroondara
Sector: Medical Research / Public Health / Local Government
Services: Brand Strategy, Creative Direction, Accessibility, Brand Guidelines, Design Systems
