What the Project Is
CODES is a member-based coalition building the global framework to accelerate digital sustainability. As the flagship initiative of this kind for the United Nations, CODES coordinates over 1300 members, including over 450 cross-sectoral organizations. Their mission is to set the global agenda and priorities for advancing a sustainable, digital transformation and to create opportunities for dialogue through activations during events like the UN Environmental Assembly, Web Summit, Stockholm+50, and the Internet Governance Forum. The project was initiated to scale beyond a landing page on SparkBlue—a community management system with little room for organizational features or custom branding—and to evolve into a fully autonomous digital hub hosted on Webflow. This re-platforming was essential to support diverse bandwidth requirements and to clearly convey CODES’ mission to first-time readers.
Main Benefit
The project brought significant benefits and key figures worth noting:
- Over 1300 members coordinated within the coalition
- More than 450 cross-sectoral organizations actively involved
- Flagship initiative driven in tandem with the United Nations
- A successful re-platforming from SparkBlue to Webflow
- Bcorp score of 90.3, highlighting its critical social and environmental impact
Innovative Re-Platforming and Content Strategy
Originally, the CODES website was a long-form landing page that integrated text into a SparkBlue-based layout. With the vision to scale and gain autonomy over content updates, the re-platforming onto Webflow marked a pivotal shift. This upgrade enabled not only the ability to manage a diverse range of content but also reinforced the clarity of CODES’ mission in a way that resonates immediately with new visitors. The design approach was deeply informed by principles of digital sustainability, ensuring a visual system evolved organically from existing aesthetics. The result was a vibrant and intuitive hub that surprises and engages its audience through familiar yet bold design choices.
Deep Research and Collaborative Approach
Before the site transformation began, a full-depth immersion into the world of CODES was essential. Analysts examined documents, reports, presentations, webinars, and hundreds of member feed posts within the online CODES community. This research, complemented by a landscape analysis, in-depth interviews with key participants and leaders, and an extensive member survey, gathered critical insights. It was through these discussions that various versions of CODES’ identity emerged. Though the findings revealed contention and contradictions, they also unveiled the coalescence of ideas that ultimately fueled a sophisticated content and messaging framework. In brief… the process was as collaborative as it was investigative.
Expanding the Visual System
The evolution of the visual system was a journey marked by precision and creativity. Starting with leveling out the saturation points and dividing each shade into 20% increments of brightness, a robust foundation was established. This methodical approach ensured that each primary hue was complemented by a versatile family of shades. Warmer shades were thoroughly tested before the exciting relationships between yellow and magenta emerged as the bridge colors. These hues were selected because they connected and enriched the palette, providing both balance and visual intrigue.
Depth Through Gradients and Neutral Tones
Further exploration led to the creation of gradients that added depth and energy throughout the design. Neutralizing the saturation to a consistent 3% produced an array of corresponding greys, which introduced subtlety and elegance to the overall composition. An additional, almost “secret” tangerine hue was discovered during the process—a tone that supported a more optimistic mood and reinforced the coalition’s objective of sustainability and hope. This nuanced combination of hues, gradients, and neutral tones ensured that the final palette was both familiar and evocative, perfectly capturing the essence of CODES.
The Project Impact
- SDG 13: Climate Action
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
Empowering Communication and a Brighter Future
The dynamic new home for the CODES community not only offers an unprecedented level of control over content management but also reinforces a strong and consistent message. Hosted on Webflow, the site now reflects CODES’ commitment to protecting our beautiful planet and its brilliant communities. Complex information related to the coalition’s initiatives and collaborators at the UN Global Compact is now organized intuitively, ensuring that the message is delivered with both clarity and flair. Amid sprays of brightly colored lines and bold ombres of magenta and indigo, the design echoes the vitality and hope that the project embodies. The revitalized digital presence stands as a prime example of how strategic design, from UX and UI design to graphic, content, and brand development, can empower organizations dedicated to a more sustainable future.
