The Seattle Times Investigative Journalism Fund

The Seattle Times Investigative Journalism Fund was established in 2018 to support the Investigative team and their mission to uncover injustices, hold power accountable and drive change in our community. When the fund was first presented, the initiative did not have a distinct look and feel; that’s where I came in.

I helped to establish the branding for the fundraising project, which has evolved as the initiative has grown. We wanted to create The Investigative Journalism Fund needed to have a unique feel but still adhere to The Seattle Times brand guidelines, conveying a sense of trust and gravitas.

Over the years the branding has grown. Through the fund and fundraising campaigns, our generous donors have pitched in over $2 million to support crucial investigative journalism.

The first piece that was created for the Fund was an invitation for a special event. From the invitation, the rest of the deliverables came together, which included event posters, the website and email templates.

In late 2021 we revamped and updated the Investigative Journalism Fund website, bringing the investigative team to the fore front while still driving donations.

Role: Lead Designer - Web & Print

Responsibilities: Branding | Concept Ideation | UI/UX Design | Print Design | Email | Project Management

Team: Ryan Castro - Web developer | Laura McAdoo - Creative Director

Goals: For the initiative as a whole, we needed to create a distinct feel that still fell under the traditional Seattle Times brand. For the website, we wanted to create a simple and informative single page where users can find basic information and ways to donate.