The next dimension of innovation.

Continuous Composites

ADDY Award 2020 Icon
B2B WEBSITE
online/interactive
ADDY Award 2020 Icon
B2B WEBSITE
online/interactive

The client and brief

Contribution

  • Identity design
  • Web design
  • Product design
  • Print collateral
  • Iconography
  • Photography

Continuous Composites is a rapidly growing startup founded in 2012, that is disrupting a decade’s old industry. CF3D® combines the power of composite materials with rapid curing resins to create a moldless, out-of-autoclave (OOA) manufacturing process.

The goal was to create a unified brand, which meant developing a design language that would help emphasize the company’s objectives and create one concise visual experience across every design medium.

Continuous Composites home page desktop and mobile layout

The identity:

An identity that can stand with the big dogs in the industry and yet be unique.

The composites industry is a very competitive space. The first challenge was creating an identity that would elevate the company and provide a well-established presence. A 3D shape in a 2D mark was chosen to provide visual depth while also being a 3D object that could be physically printed with the technology. The logotype was modified to favor more modern, flowing lines that help provide a continuous flow.

The website:

Show the vision of the company, educate a broad user base, and establish a visual language.

Credit:

  • Me - Photos, design, and development
  • Allie Hambling - Creative direction and content

Tools used:

  • Adobe XD
  • Webflow

The composites industry was starting to pay attention to this flourishing startup in North Idaho. This website needed to educate the world about what was going on at 215 E Lakeside. But, this couldn’t happen with just one designer, it would take a team. From content to colors to layout and graphics, it was a team effort that all began at the whiteboard.

visit the website
Whiteboard sketching of Continuous Composites website design

Website layout

Website style guide

Tablet controller interface:

Create a user interface that operators can use to control 3D prints.

Credit:

  • Me - UX design & prototyping
  • Kyle Cummings - Backend development
  • Josiah Coad - Backend development
  • Elisha Coad - Frontend development

Tools used:

  • Sketch
  • Lucid Chart
  • Jira
  • InVision

As an early exploration, a creative brief was set to guide a deep dive into a touch screen interface capable of controlling and monitoring 3D prints. The Robot Operation System (ROS) would need to access part files from a database, send this data to the robot, monitor all sensors on the print head and robot, and display the status of resources onboard the print head.

get a deeper look
Robot Operating System tablet mockup.
User flow of onboarding experience for Robot Operating SystemRobot interface showing print details on tablet design 02Robot interface showing print details on tablet design
Mind mapping of entire product experience.Simple user flow of Robot Operating SystemRobot Operating System dashboard showing print logPreflight check of all sensors located on robot

Conclusion - Dream work makes the team work:

It takes a collective of individuals to shape a successful brand.

It might sound a bit odd saying "Dreamwork makes a team work," but in the case of our business, it was the Wild West. We were creating a technology that had never been pursued before. It would take the dream of what could be to shape what was to come.

In mid-2017, the goal was to use my collection of skills to grow the visual brand of a company. Continuous Composites provided such a platform and entrusted me with creating a brand to match and elevate a thriving startup. As the business continues to grow, I have learned one irrefutable thing: one person alone cannot shape a brand. It takes a collective of individuals pursuing a common goal to achieve success.

Bonus material - Photography:

Here is a small collection of the images I have taken during my tenure at Continuous Composites.
Continuous carbon fiber skateboard printed with CF3D technology on dark background
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