When NATO Innovation Fund (NIF), a standalone venture capital fund, backed by 24 NATO Allies, approached Creative Brand Design for their website redesign, they didn’t want just any new look, they needed something bold, cutting-edge and high-performance. They needed a website that would reflect their role as a €1 billion deep-tech venture capital fund. Challenge accepted.
The result? An award-winning website, earning top industry recognition, including Gold at the London Design Awards!
Beyond the Basics: A Website Built to Lead
Previously, NIF’s website had all the appeal of a government brochure, functional but uninspiring. As a venture capital fund, supporting cutting-edge, deep-tech startups, their online presence needed to reflect that ambition and forward-thinking mindset.
Our job was clear: modernise their digital identity. A redesign that would not only enhance user experience but also its interactivity and scalability; All whilst aligning with their goal of driving innovation in technology and global investment.
The new site had to:
- Engage a diverse audience, from investors to startup founders.
- Maintain a professional, authoritative presence (but with a modern refresh!)
- Deliver a visually compelling, high-performance user experience across all devices.
Here’s what we delivered: A sleek, engaging platform that captures the essence of deep-tech startups and positions NIF’s reputation as an industry leader.
We didn’t just touch the surface; we revamped everything, from the complete strategy and designs to usability and technical performance. The end product is a site that not only looks beautiful but also works seamlessly across all devices.
How We Built an Award-Winning Website
Our team jumped straight into completely reimagining NIF’s digital presence. Here’s what we did to turn this vision into a reality:
- A Bold, Modern Design: Out went the old, stiff government-style design, and in came a high-contrast, modern colour palette and clean typography. This new look reflects NIF’s innovative mission while still maintaining a strong, authoritative presence.
- Interactive & Engaging Features: Think subtle animations, smooth scrolling effects, and interactive maps, all carefully placed to deepen the user experience without being overwhelming. The goal was a dynamic but easy-to-navigate journey through the site that keeps users engaged from start to finish.
User-Focused Functionality: We made sure that complex investment and funding information didn’t feel like a maze. The content is structured in a way that is intuitive and easy to digest so that startups, investors, and stakeholders can now find what they need quickly and effortlessly.
Collaboration at its Best and Bringing NIF’s Vision to Life
This wasn’t a simple “set it and forget it” project. Creative Brand Design worked closely with NIF and NATO (yes, NATO!) to ensure we were perfectly aligned at every stage. We held regular feedback sessions, to make sure the site stayed true to their vision, all whilst refining the design and user experience.
By using inspiration from NIF’s initial vision and mood boards, we built a site that strikes the perfect balance between cutting-edge innovation and professional presence, with every element created with precision, usability, and future scalability in mind.
A Website That Wins (Literally!)
Since its launch, the NATO Innovation Fund website has delivered incredible results, including:
- A 220% increase in user engagement
- Gold Award Win at the London Design Awards
- Site of the Day (July 18th, 2024) from Design Nominees
- Honourable Mention (July 23rd, 2024) from Awwwards.com
- Star Award (July 25th, 2024) from CSS Winner
Beyond these wins, the site has also been recognised by CSS Design Awards, CSS Light and Orpetron securing its place as an industry-leading digital project.
With this 220% increase in user engagement, the numbers speak for themselves. These results reinforce the fact that we create more than just pretty websites, we deliver award-winning websites that achieve measurable success.
Why Does This Win Matter?
This project isn’t just another portfolio piece, it’s proof that Creative Brand Design excels at creating award-winning digital experiences. We combine creativity with technical expertise, ensuring that every site we design is not only visually stunning but also high-performing, user-friendly, and future-proof.
“Winning Gold at the London Design Awards is an incredible achievement for our team,” said Chris Baker. “It’s a proud moment that reflects what we truly excel at: creating beautifully designed, high-performing websites that empower our clients to shine.”
Want an Award-Winning Website? Let’s Talk
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