:NextStep 22:
ROLE: Creative Director
AGENCY: Studio Dumbar
THE BRIEF BRIEF: Create a bold, energetic identity, that supports the tagline: ‘where the future of software develops’.
OutSystems was emerging as an industry leader, but its identity still looked like a safe, mediocre tech startup. Past conferences had been uninspired—bland visuals, forgettable messaging, and swag that rarely made it past the donation bins. The bigger issue was that stakeholders and young creatives had grown accustomed to this level, making it harder to imagine anything better. We needed to sell them on the idea of leveling up—and show them what that could look like. Coming out of COVID, the first in-person event in years was the perfect opportunity.
We approached it as a long game.
Step 1: Make the conference feel like a true industry leader’s event.
Step 2: Use it to raise the bar internally and give the team a benchmark for what “great” could be. With the ECD, we rewrote the brief, aligned leadership, and partnered with Studio Dumbar to push the creative further than anyone thought possible.
Our motivation was simple: “We are leaders in this industry. We should look like leaders.” Taking cues from brands like Nike, Apple, and Google, we elevated the experience with bold visuals, sharper messaging, and a cohesive brand system that touched everything from stage design to swag.
NextStep 2022 didn’t just mark OutSystems’ return to in-person events—it set a new creative standard. The rebrand energized the conference and gave internal teams a clear vision of what was possible, raising expectations for every project that followed.
AWARDS: European Design Award, The One Show, D&AD Pencil, Type Directors Club
<home
