Design for a changing virtual landscape
The world of virtual reference was a relatively new frontier even before The Great Sickness of 2020. Back in my day, if you wanted to ask a librarian a question, you had to call the library or go there in person. Now you can ask a librarian a question online, at any time of the day, and get a response right away. But now, after the entire world has become more virtual, having your librarian online should be the standard, right? That’s where NAVROC comes in.
The North American Virtual Reference Online Conference, or NAVROC, is a multi-day learning experience for library professionals across the continent. The theme for the 2021 conference was “Adaptability: Thriving in Uncertain Times,” and I was tasked with conveying this theme within the branding to be used on social media and the NAVROC website. That begs the question, though: how do you represent adaptability in a static visual without relying on clichéd imagery?
The continuous change in the purple-to-blue gradient complimented by the step-by-step transformation of a square into a diamond show that there’s not one perfect way to adapt to new environments. Whether it’s a gradual change that’s as natural as the sun rising and setting, or a deliberate change you choose to make every day you wake up, a change is going to come one way or another.