Measuring the health and wellbeing of British society
UCL Life Study birth cohort research project website design
The Challenge
Life Study was an ambitious and groundbreaking public health initiative launched in 2014, enrolling over 100,000 families during pregnancy and following them through childhood into adulthood. Since 1946, similar studies have led to some of the most significant social and medical insights of recent decades. I was honoured to be invited to lead the design of the pilot programme website.
Solutions and Outcomes
To achieve its mission, UCL and the Institute of Education needed to engage participants from the widest range of families and communities across British society. The website had to be clear, accessible, and easy to navigate for individuals with diverse cultural backgrounds, varying levels of English proficiency, and a broad spectrum of economic and educational backgrounds.
I designed a bright, primary-colour palette that complemented imagery of young families, reinforcing warmth and inclusivity. A large, modern typeface and responsive layout ensured clarity and ease of use, allowing participants to find key information quickly and return to the site periodically to share their data.
This design approach extended to print materials and an accompanying social media campaign, creating a consistent and recognisable visual identity.
Although the study’s funding was cut in 2016, leading to its premature closure, there remains a strong intention to relaunch the programme when government funding is restored.
Life Study in action
