Gerson Lopez
Visualizing Unity Through Strategy and Design

Connection

ION’s annual multi-city client events, Connection, are designed to celebrate the power of networking and collaboration. Originally launched as a virtual event in 2021, the series struggled to establish a distinct visual identity—one that could set it apart in the market while still maintaining a clear relationship to its parent brand.

My vision was to extract and reimagine graphical elements from the ION identity, using them to create a system that visually embodies the event’s core idea: connecting and coming together.

Visualizing Unity Through Strategy and Design

Visualizing Unity Through Strategy and Design

This event identity began with a simple yet powerful idea: connection. Acting as Creative Director and Brand Strategist, my goal was to translate that concept into a visual and verbal system that felt both meaningful and functional.

Drawing from the brand’s core element—the ions—I created a central motif by merging two ions, symbolizing distinct forces coming together as one. To balance the composition and ensure versatility across applications, I introduced two additional ions to the left of the design. This grounded the logo, making it adaptable for digital and print while reinforcing structural harmony.

To extend the story beyond the visual, I developed the slogan “Coming Together.” This phrase amplifies the identity’s narrative, tying strategy to emotion and ensuring that the event’s message of unity resonates consistently across all brand touchpoints.

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Outcome

Outcome

The refreshed identity gave Connection a clear and cohesive presence—distinct enough to stand on its own, yet deeply connected to ION’s overarching brand. This unified system strengthened recognition across markets, enhanced the event’s visual impact, and provided a scalable framework for future iterations.

The visual strategy came to life across every touchpoint—from pre-event communications to on-site graphics and a fully skinned third-party event app—creating a cohesive and immersive brand experience.

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At event

At event

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Merch

Merch

A collection of merchandise for event attendees

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