Stockholm School of Economics

Strengthening the brand through web design.  

The Stockholm School of Economics (SSE) is a private business school. The school has 1 900 students registered at their educational programme of Bachelor and Master Degrees. Additionally world leading research is conducted at SSE within marketing, economics, financial economics, statistics and accounting.

In 2008 SSE decided to do a total re-design of its current website, the aim was to create a website which should “be of high quality, bold, functional, have a uniform look and perceived as modern”. H&H was contacted for the assignment.

A workshop with a Mood Board

The assignment commenced with a design workshop held with important internal stakeholders at SSE. This was done to provide H&H’s project group a picture of SSE’s expectations, desires and ambitions with the new website. The workshop concluded with the project group ranking and prioritising the top three values, which also define what the company stands for. This, as well as a simple 'Mood Board' exercise - an element where participants patch together a ‘map’ of photos and colours, was the founding base for the new design.

Clearer connection to SSE’s brand

The aim of the new design is to convey that SSE is: innovative (in front edge), efficient (driven), bold (dare to challenge), exclusive (for the best), proud (head held high) and international (manifold). The new design has a clear connection to SSE’s values and is believed to strengthen the school’s brand.
During a number of intensive months from October to December 2008 the new design was worked on allowing the new website to be launched in the beginning of February. 

The result

• A well-functioning design which is consistent and thought through.
• A clearer connection to SSE’s values and brand.
• A design which works in context to SSE, with websites in websites in a simple structure.

Visit SSE's website