Howard University
Brand identity for the Center demystifying democracy
A new visual identity and website establishing a hub for legal scholarship, advocacy, and strategic collaboration surrounding the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution.
The 14th Amendment Center for Law and Democracy at Howard Law School is a hub for legal scholarship, advocacy, and strategic collaboration and convening focused on advancing democracy and equal rights. The Center is led by Sherrilyn Ifill, the Vernon Jordan Jr. Distinguished Professor of Civil Rights and former president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. Through legal scholarship, advocacy, and strategic convening, the Center works to protect and advance the 14th Amendment’s guarantees of citizenship, equal protection, and due process.
Madeo had the honor of partnering with the Center to create the brand identity from the ground up alongside its new website. The two projects introduce the organization at a critical moment in time and demonstrate that the stakes of the 14th Amendment are immediate.
- Brand Discovery
- Visual Identity Design
- Brand Guidelines
- Brand Assets & Training
- Art Direction
- Web Research & Discovery
- Information Architecture
- Content Strategy
- UX/UI Design
- Web Development
- Quality Assurance
- Search Engine Optimization
- Animation
The idea that history is alive became a guiding principle for the entire identity. The Center’s work sits at the intersection of American history and present-day urgency, and the brand reflects this: serious enough for scholars and policymakers, while direct enough for anyone trying to understand what’s actually at stake. As Ifill has written, “Every component of this amendment is under pressure right now — birthright citizenship, equal protection, due process, and the enforcement powers of Congress.”
We designed a clear, bold identity that draws inspiration from a wide range of historical moments and artifacts that reflect the ideals of the 14th Amendment. The “Flame of Liberty” of the Statue of Liberty inspired the typographic treatment of the “14th.” The design system centers editorial typography in carrying the weight of the message. Full-bleed statements and pull quotes treat the Center’s words as the centerpiece of every application. The colors are rich, balancing historical depth with a modern and forward-facing energy.
Our teams also partnered on a new website that gives the Center a home online. The website serves as a hub where legal scholars, advocates, and the public can engage with the Center’s work, follow its convenings, and understand the stakes of the 14th Amendment in plain language. Visitors can quickly locate the Center’s most recent analyses and news, as well as resources for understanding the 14th Amendment and its impact on culture through today.