Best of CASE District VII Award
 

Institution: University of California, Santa Barbara

Title of entry: NCEAS 30th Anniversary Impact Report + Case Statement

About this entry: The 2025 NCEAS 30th Anniversary Impact Report is not our usual report: it is a custom piece designed to bridge 30 years of impact with an ambitious $10 million fundraising campaign. As a direct result of this publication, NCEAS has secured a $1 million gift in support of AI for the Planet to mobilize climate solutions. As a key part of NCEAS’s fundraising strategy, it has helped inspire a challenge gift of $50K, a pledge of $100K for the Art + Science program, and over $800K in research funds. NCEAS partnered with UCSB’s Development Communications team to produce this project.

Our design approach employs a visual hierarchy that weaves together high-resolution photography, illustrative art, and data visualizations. The report design flows through the past, present, and future. It grounds itself in the mission and vision of NCEAS, proves past impact through storytelling, provides a retrospective timeline, previews current projects, and signals a new era through the AI for the Planet initiative.

This report weaves data-driven milestones with narrative storytelling and a rich visual theme. In doing so, the report humanizes complex data science, reinforcing NCEAS’s position in the top 1% of global ecological research institutions. The report targets an audience of global scientific partners, current and prospective donors, and formerly affiliated postdoctoral scholars.

The report’s colorful photography was extended through a robust social media campaign. Its striking design made it an engaging addition to the UC Santa Barbara giving homepage at giving.ucsb.edu, where it is featured.