Vakils developed a brand concept and identity for a leading multi-national biopharmaceutical group’s gastroenterology conference
Background:
In 2024, a multinational biopharmaceutical group hosted a gastroenterology conference centred on ulcerative colitis, a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The event brought together leading gastroenterology experts to share the latest advancements and foster collaboration across the region.
Objective:
The biopharmaceutical group approached Vakils to help plan the brand identity and journey of the conference. Over the next few months, we worked closely with the client not only to develop the brand concept, but also to build a meaningful brand experience at the medical conference through impactful event collateral and communication.
The focus of the conference was on a chronic inflammatory condition that occurs on the inside of the colon. The event branding needed to reflect this theme, without getting too technical or neglecting the aesthetics. The final step was conceptualising the logo. Our client did not want a predictable corporate logo. Instead, they wished to highlight the interplay between science and art in medical research and advancement.
Challenges:
Working remotely on event branding came with unique challenges. With the conference destination abroad, and Vakils in Mumbai, we needed to develop a communications system that would allow for regular discussions to set the direction. One workaround was a weekly cadence call with the client, the local production team, and Vakils. Each week, we connected over a video call to set the agenda and expectations, carry out essential troubleshooting, and share feedback and inputs to keep things moving.
Solution:
We transformed the naturally occurring patterns of the human gut into stylised visual elements. The villi and crypts were simplified into minimalist shapes to represent the colon while creating powerful and memorable images. We selected purple, maroon and pink as our lead colours—a nod to the hues and shades of the histological images that inspired this creative route.
The Vakils team provided more than design and content solutions. We helped with ideation on the kinds of collateral needed, where to place them, what the dimensions should be, and the materials that would work best, all based on the actual venue layout and specifications. We also developed 3D images to help the client visualise how the collateral would look at different locations within their conference venue.
