Year
2021-2024
Client
Aalto University, the University of Helsinki; and Laurea, Haaga-Helia and Metropolia Universities of Applied Sciences
Design type
Visual Identity, UI-Design, Print Design, Marketing
Tools
InDesign, Illustrator, and Figma
Background
Kielibuusti project is a government-funded project aimed at enhancing native languages education in Finland. The project develops and provides resources not only for language learners but also for those who support learners, such as teachers, workplace communities, and career and study advisors. The project is a collaborative effort led by Aalto University in partnership with Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, the University of Helsinki, Laurea University of Applied Sciences, and Metropolia University of Applied Sciences.
I was hired by Aalto University as an in-house graphic designer for the Kielibuusti project, along with its subprojects and related initiatives, from 2021 to 2024.
Visual identity
Kielibuusti’s visual identity was designed to distinguish itself from typical Finnish language materials, which often rely solely on blue and white color schemes. Instead, the identity was crafted to be vibrant, “boosting” and positive, aiming to inspire and motivate users to engage with the website. This approach received positive feedback through multiple rounds of user interviews and surveys.
As part of the identity, a custom photo library was developed in collaboration with several photographers, ensuring a cohesive visual experience across all materials. Kielibuusti’s identity was consistently applied across various platforms, including the website (language learning portal). It was designed in collaboration with Amy Järvisalo (UI&UX), Oskari Anttonen (UI&UX) and Salla Vaalio (service design & UX research).
“Working with Jenni has been a great experience. She pays attention to detail in design and always responds quickly, allowing us to move through design tasks efficiently. Not only is Jenni quick and flexible when it comes to iterating on design work, she always brings fresh and creative ideas to the team for further review, helping us to tackle design challenges effectively.
Her positive attitude, open-mindedness and proactive nature make her a pleasure to work with and she creates an environment of learning and collaboration. We’ve learned so much from each other while working on the Kielibuusti project, and her ability to adapt and drive us towards our goals has been essential to the success of this project.
Jenni’s contributions – both in the designs she created and the way she engaged with the team – made a huge impact on Kielibuusti project.”
Amy Järvisalo (UI&UX designer)
Other platforms Kielibuusti’s visual identity was seen was social media (Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, X, and Facebook), as well as in the learning materials produced during the project.
“As a copywriter, I have worked with graphic designers, and the collaboration with Jenni has been smoother than ever before. Jenni’s deep expertise and proactive approach to projects have brought a new inspiring level to writing ad copy as well.” (Translated from Finnish to English)
Enni Ruuhilahti (viestintäasiantuntija/communication specialist)
In addition to digital materials, Kielibuusti’s visual identity was present on printed materials such as commercial and academic posters, stickers, embroidered cloth badges, business cards and flyers.
Key Learning Outcome
Since I worked with this visual identity for years, with different people from different fields, with its different applications, I expanded my knowledge on creating an efficient, accessible, and adaptable visual identity. I now understand far better how to create and identity that works on many different complex levels.
Jenni Lintumäki 