Problem
Awaiting lift-off
It's an unfortunate fact of life that far too much promising science stalls long before it gets anywhere near the reason it was conceived in the first place — to change patients' lives. Great ideas, stuck in the lab, without the expertise, infrastructure or funding to move them forward.
Slingshot was built to change that. An accelerator designed to take early-stage drug discovery out of university labs and move it towards the clinic, at pace.
It had the backing, it had the leadership, it had its first programme ready to go. It even had a name.
What it didn't have was anything else. No logo, no visual language, no tone of voice — no brand at all — no website either — and a launch date that wasn't budging! With its public announcement set for just a few months after the project kicked off.
On top of that, the identity needed to talk to a wide range of stakeholders, and primarily so; two very different groups. Academics, understandably protective of their life's work; and big pharma, looking for de-risked assets and a clear return.
So one brand, one website, a number of stakeholders and just a few months to bring it all to life...
Solution
The slingshot effect
We started broad, with six creative territories spanning everything from powerful partnerships to curious science. The one that stuck was network advantage – the idea that Slingshot's real value lies in connection: linking this fantastic yet still fledgling science, to the people, know-how and resources it needs to move forward.
After that? Well, the name did the rest... In space travel, the slingshot effect uses a planet's gravity to fling a spacecraft further and faster than it could ever manage on its own. That's exactly what Slingshot does for early science – lending it the pull of an established network, giving these game-changing ideas the velocity they need to launch into orbit.
With that, connection and propulsion became the heart of the identity. A logo mark of two nodes, stretched and ready to release. A pattern system of connecting dots that links, grows and flexes. Isometric illustrations mapping the journey from academic hypothesis to clinic-ready candidate. Whilst animated iconography, graphics and patterns brought things life — after all, a brand built on momentum was never going to stand still.
The website pulled it all together: clear user journeys for academics and big pharma, the platform explained step by step, and a press centre ready for the news flow to come. Throw in a presentation template and a suite of social assets, and Slingshot had everything it needed for lift-off, from day one.
Impact
Off like a shot
Slingshot went live right on schedule, alongside its public announcement – just a few months after our initial briefing session.
"From day one, the brand gave us something we could put in front of academics, partners and investors with real confidence. It's helped open the conversations that have gone on to become programmes – and it tells a story people want to back."
64%
year-on-year increase in users
63
countries reached since launch
And it's been busy growing into its new brand ever since. Its first programme, Apini, has gone on to attract outside investment; senior hires have strengthened the leadership team; and a second programme, ALTx Therapeutics, has launched into the accelerator with £12.55m of funding.
A brand built for momentum, for a business that's proving to already have plenty of it.
