Epoch AI

A refreshed look & communication hub for a leading AI research institute

Brief

Epoch AI is a research institute focused on analyzing and forecasting the development of transformative AI. Epoch's primary mission is to investigate key trends and questions that will shape the trajectory and governance of AI, in order to support the work of researchers, engineers, and global decicion makers. I was tasked with 3 projects: the concept and design of a new trends page that could live among Epoch's old website, the redesign of it's website to better reflect Epoch's work and ambition, and the design of a comprehensive set of data visualizations that could clearly communicate Epoch's research across all comunication channels.

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Services

Brand Design Web Design Content Design UI/UX Design Data Visualizations

Industries

AI, Research

Timeframe

Q1 – Q4 2023

01 – Trends page

The goal of the AI Trends page was to provide an overview of the full range of Epoch’s research, while also enhancing the visibility and discoverability of individual papers and key reports. To keep the data engaging without making it dull, the research was divided into segments, with key insights from each featured at the top in a trends grid. This section also includes a customizable "growth value" selector, allowing users to switch between different metrics and view the data in a way that resonates with their perspective. Below the grid, the page dives into specific trend categories, highlighting notable data points and featuring major research outputs like papers and reports. Users can also directly access interactive data visualizations and the underlying datasets, enabling them to explore and manipulate the data themselves. The page was initially launched on the old website with a different design but was later revamped to align with the redesigned site.

Visit Trends page

Trend categories
Compute trends section
Data trends section

With the release of the AI Trends page, Epoch has seen increased attention within the AI research community and general public, demonstrating the importance of Epoch's work in mapping AI's future and effectively communicating their research to those working in or impacted by the emerging field of transformative AI.

Different website elements for Epoch AI

02 – Website redesign

After the successful launch of the new AI Trends page and increased recognition for Epoch's research, we began overhauling the rest of the website. Our main objectives were to align Epoch's growing presence in the AI research community with a more professional image and to more effectively communicate their expanding research findings to a wider audience through better communication tools and an optimized platform. Besides redesigning the main website, this work also included creating a new blog, expanding Epoch's brand design to be visually more flexible, and developing an entire data visualization system that would allow anyone to explore, manipulate, and engage with Epoch's data and research directly – see section 3.

As part of the overall design process, I started to map out the sitemap, required content modules, and integrand them into wireframes to guide the content creation process and visual design. I then explored several visual directions by developing a new brand palette, before settling on a style with an accompanying font pairing. This identity not only strikes a vibrant yet respectful tone but also pays homage to the aesthetics of research papers, which are deeply rooted in Epoch’s work. At the same time, it embraces a clean look that works well in tight UI situations, enabling Epoch's team to communicate with clarity and scientific substance. With the team's feedback, I incorporated this style across all pages of the redesigned website and developed a set of simple hero illustrations that enhanced brand recognition and help to guide users through the website's content in a playful and thematic way. You can explore some of the pages with the applied style below:

03 – Data Visualization System

Epoch’s core strength lies in their investigative research on the trajectory of AI, and a crucial aspect of that work involves visualizing the trends and narratives uncovered within and across the data. That’s why a significant part of our collaboration was the creation of a brand-aligned, modular data visualization system, designed for flexibility in different formats—whether static or interactive, for use in blogs, papers, or social media. Since writing my thesis on data journalism in 2011 and discovering the work of Edward Tufte, I’ve been a strong advocate for clear, unobstructed visualizations that prioritize maximizing the "data-ink ratio." I'm glad that through my work with Epoch I was able to reconnect with those principles and create a system that not only enhances the visual appeal of Epoch's research but also makes it more accessible to the growing AI research community.

Since launching the project, Epoch AI has used the system to update their previous research, release a variety of new papers and reports, and has experienced a significant increase in industry and media attention, along with growth in their social following. I'm grateful for the opportunity to contribute to advancing the field of AI research and remain fascinated by Epoch's ability to uncover valuable insights that foster deeper understanding of this transformative technology.