For a school project, I developed an unofficial design system for Ologies, the award-winning podcast hosted by science correspondent Alie Ward. From volcanologists to arborists to futurologists, Ward interviews “-ologists” of all kinds about their professional passions.
The goal of this unendorsed system was to help organize and promote the podcast’s extensive back catalogue, while offering a path to highlight past, present, and upcoming episodes. The challenge was to build a flexible, audience-friendly design system that could represent the nearly 300 Ologies episodes—covering a huge spectrum of scientific fields and disciplines.
The visual identity needed to feel striking, smart, and welcoming to a wide audience—encouraging deeper listener engagement and supporting potential growth in donations and sponsorships.
Note: This project is a student design exercise and is not affiliated with or officially endorsed by Ologies or Alie Ward.
I created a visual narrative rooted in the themes of the tree of knowledge, folk art, and scientific illustration. The system leans into Ologies’ existing aesthetic—vintage, nerdy, curious—while proposing an expanded look that could serve the brand’s future needs. The final concept combines a modular layout inspired by quilt blocks with hand-drawn symbols and natural textures. It’s a celebration of the podcast’s diverse subject matter, while maintaining clarity and cohesion across episodes.
I started by exploring the science communication space—analyzing other successful podcasts and shows to better understand what makes them connect with listeners. I looked at tone, audience targeting, subject complexity, and visual identity. Ologies stands out not just for its breadth of topics, but for its ability to make science feel deeply personal, funny, and accessible. With that in mind, I wanted the design system to reflect the warmth and quirk of the show while offering something new.
My moodboard combined elements of folk art, quilt patterns, and scientific illustration. These visuals capture both the diversity of content and the interconnectedness of knowledge—a recurring theme in the podcast. The “tree of knowledge” became a central motif to symbolize the branching paths of scientific inquiry explored by Ologies guests.
To organize the nearly 300 episodes, I developed six primary categories:
- Physics
- Engineering
- Animal & Plant Biology
- Human Biology
- Anthropology
- Earth Systems
Each category received a custom symbol, rooted in folk motifs and integrated into the tree of knowledge visual. These symbols also served as graphic anchors within quilt-block-inspired layouts—each block representing a different episode, layered with textures, icons, or patterns relevant to its subject.
I refined the color palette and typeface selection to complement the existing Ologies brand while introducing a fresh, more expansive look. The result is a system that feels both brand-aligned and forward-thinking.
This project offered a playful yet practical exercise in designing for systems thinking—balancing flexibility, clarity, and personality. It’s an exploration of how science content can be visually categorized in a way that is modular, scaleable and unique.
Note: This project is a student design exercise and is not affiliated with or officially endorsed by Ologies or Alie Ward.
