Harvard Rare Disease Hackathon
Role: Designer
Software: Illustrator
Brand Identity
About the Brand: A biotechnology student-led initiative dedicated to raising awareness and fostering innovation for underserved rare diseases. The team consists of Harvard undergraduates collaborating with the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) to advance practical, meaningful, and lasting change for patients with rare diseases.
Project Goals: A logo suite that is professional but still welcoming and avoids a sketched look. The primary goal is to attract participants and sponsors and to raise awareness for the rare disease community. The logo should represent an environment for innovation that supports key stages of the patient journey, including diagnosis, symptom management, and treatment.
Target Audience
The Student
The Student is curious, ambitious, and compassionate, motivated by scientific discovery and social impact. They value equity and real-life problem-solving. They also tend to be based in the United States or Canada and are involved in undergraduate or early research roles. Their choices reflect a purpose-driven mindset focused on innovation and making a meaningful difference. They actively seek opportunities to apply their skills beyond the classroom in ways that contribute to real progress.
The Sponsor
The Sponsor embodies leadership, strategy, and social responsibility, driven by scientific advancement, corporate innovation, and strategic philanthropy. They value visibility, community impact, and building pipelines for emerging talent. Their choices reflect a mission-oriented professional identity focused on supporting the next generation. They also seek opportunities to connect with elite academic institutions and contribute meaningfully to patient-centered causes.
Design Decisions
Overall Design
The redesign avoids being overly playful or juvenile, striking a balance between modern professionalism and creativity. This approach makes it approachable for students, professors, and potential sponsors alike.
Logo Suite
The logo suite centers on the DNA strand, symbolizing the foundation of biotech. Dots at the bottom represent disease and its connection to the industry, creating a visual of innovation and human impact. The hourglass shape highlights the time-sensitive nature of the hackathon and is constructed from the shield element in the Harvard logo.
Fonts
The typeface is bold yet inviting, chosen to maintain consistency with the sponsor, NORD, and to reinforce brand alignment.
Color Palette
The palette balances contrast and cohesion, fitting within the health and tech industries. Dark green serves as the primary base, while blue and purple function as interchangeable accent colors.
Outcomes
Following the 2025 redesign, participant reach grew by 186.5% (from 67 to 192), while university reach expanded by 487.5% (from 8 to 47). Participants included undergraduate and graduate students from prestigious institutions such as Harvard, University of Pennsylvania, MIT, Tufts University, the University at Buffalo, the University of California, Michigan State University, Simmons University, Columbia University, George Washington University, and Washington University in St. Louis.
This redesign also played a pivotal role in establishing the NORD Scholarship Program, which helps reduce financial barriers for students committed to rare disease research. The program has supported 54 students across 18 universities.