Spring 2024 NSF Grants Conference
June 3-5, 2024 • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
THE IMPACT
The Spring 2024 NSF Grants Conference successfully reestablished NSF’s hybrid event presence, delivering critical content to a national audience with high satisfaction ratings.
Key outcomes included:
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1st successful hybrid event for the National Science Foundation Policy Office Outreach
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1,822 total attendees representing 595 institutions, including 39 minority-serving institutions
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87% of in-person and 94% of virtual attendees reported the conference met or exceeded expectations
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98% of survey respondents reported increased knowledge from the event
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75% felt more equipped to submit proposals as a result of attending
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Successful launch of the workshop app, enhancing the attendee experience across sessions
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Highlight video produced to extend conference reach and engagement post-event
This solution-focused approach ensured all deliverables were cohesive, accessible, and aligned with NSF’s mission, maximizing impact for both in-person and virtual participants.
THE SOLUTION
To address project goals for this large-scale hybrid event, the focus remained on delivering high-impact, essential assets created a cohesive, accessible, and professional attendee experience while maintaining NSF’s brand standards.
Key deliverables included:
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Event brand identity & style guide: Visual standards, typography, and color palette
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Workshop app design (Stova): User-focused app with clear agendas, session details, and attendee resources
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Branded presentation templates: Custom slides for all speakers and sessions
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Promotional email campaigns: Designed outreach communications to drive registration and engagement
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Event signage & stage graphics: Large-format designs for in-person branding
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Digital platform graphics: Livestream overlays and app visuals to maintain consistent branding
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Event highlight video: Edited recap video to showcase conference reach and impact
The Challenge
The Spring 2024 NSF Grants Conference required seamless coordination of both in-person and virtual experiences to reestablish NSF’s flagship event post-pandemic. The project demanded strategic design, branding, and technology integration to engage a large, diverse audience effectively.
Key challenges included:
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First hybrid execution since 2019: Required planning and design to ensure a smooth 1st time hybrid attendee experience across formats
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Large national audience: Needed clear, accessible materials to support 1,800+ attendees
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High-volume deliverables: Tight timelines for approvals and production of digital and print assets
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Brand consistency: Visual identity had to align with NSF standards while elevating the conference experience
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Cross-platform content delivery: Designs needed to translate seamlessly between the workshop app, livestream, and in-person presentation environments
PROJECT OVERVIEW
The Spring 2024 NSF Grants Conference was held June 3–5, 2024, at the Marriott Old City in Philadelphia, PA. This was NSF’s first hybrid grants conference since 2019, providing critical updates on funding opportunities, proposal and award processes, and policy updates to a national audience of researchers, faculty, and administrators.
As Creative Director and Senior UX/UI Designer, responsibilities included:
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Visual branding and creative direction for conference materials
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Design and development of the workshop app in Stova, ensuring an accessible, user-friendly attendee experience
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Branded presentation templates and digital assets for consistent messaging
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Design of event signage and stage graphics to enhance in-person engagement
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Creation of promotional and informational email campaigns to drive registration and participation
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Production of a highlight video capturing the event’s impact and reach
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Collaboration with NSF stakeholders to ensure brand alignment and accessible, high-quality content delivery across both physical and virtual platforms
All deliverables were cohesive, professional, and aligned with NSF’s mission to support the nation’s research community.
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