National Geographic — Run for Wildlife
National Geographic · 2022
National Geographic's Run for Wildlife is an annual conservation-themed running event that brings runners together to raise awareness for wildlife protection. We developed the visual design and editorial layouts for the event's participant-facing materials — including the pre-race guide, route maps, venue layout, runner bibs, and on-site signage — ensuring every piece was clear, consistent, and aligned with the National Geographic brand identity.
The Run for Wildlife features multiple race categories, a full-day program of on-site activities, and a wide range of logistical information that participants need to absorb before and during the event. The challenge was handling a high volume of complex content — race routes, schedules, traffic arrangements, venue logistics, and sponsor messaging — and translating it into designs that participants could read quickly in real event conditions, all while maintaining visual coherence under the National Geographic brand.
We grounded the visual language in a nature-forward palette of deep greens and organic textures, connecting every piece to the event's wildlife conservation theme while staying within the National Geographic brand framework.
The key design decision was treating information hierarchy as the primary problem. Each deliverable served a different context — a pre-race guide read at home, a route map checked mid-run, a directional sign scanned in seconds — so we structured each layout around how and where it would actually be used. Dense editorial content like the race guide was organized into clearly sectioned spreads with checklist formatting for quick reference, while on-site signage prioritized large-scale legibility and instant recognition. A unified typographic and color system tied every format together into one cohesive event experience.
The designs we developed covered every major participant touchpoint across the event — from the first promotional material a runner receives to the last kilometer marker before the finish line. By approaching each piece as an information design problem first, we helped make complex event logistics feel clear and accessible, while keeping the conservation message present throughout the runner's experience.
Graphic Design — Brady Chen
Collaborator — Delicacy Integrated Marketing
Client — National Geographic
Event Film — National Geographic