hpe tech talk podcast

Role: Design Direction and Design

Insight

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) was launching a new podcast, Tech Talk, to share insights, innovations, and interviews with industry leaders. Aimed at senior IT professionals, decision-makers, analysts, and press, the visual identity needed to feel sophisticated, modern, and deeply rooted in the tech world without losing clarity or warmth.

Idea

I created a bold, minimalist identity system that visually emphasized dialogue and innovation. It utilizes a simplified microphone icon that uses the two “T’s” in “Tech Talk,” while also giving feelings of movement and connectivity.

Execution

I led the design and presentation of the podcast logo and social collateral, grounding decisions in insights from deep immersion in HPE’s brand and industry landscape. To streamline production, I recommended using an Audiogram app for audio visuals, saving time and budget without compromising quality. The work was presented to key internal stakeholders, including members of the C-suite, and received enthusiastic praise for its simplicity and ingenuity.

Portfolio Template_HPE.jpg

Logo ideation, from left to right:

  1. Inspired by coding brackets, and altered to be the two “T’s” in “Tech Talk.” Speaks to senior IT podcast audience.

  2. The two “T’s” in “Tech Talk” are altered quotations that halo back to the spoken word of the podcast, and resemble smiling and talking mouths.

  3. Using an altered hashtag shape to speak to the digital nature of today’s work environment, and to reference the two “T’s” in “Tech Talk.”

  4. Detailed microphone icon that uses the two “T’s” in “Tech Talk,” and is reminiscent of circuit boards.

  5. Lowercase “hpe” letterforms halo back to punctuation, and the spoken word of podcasts.

  6. Simplified microphone icon that uses the two “T’s” in “Tech Talk,” while also giving feelings of movement and connectivity.

Outcome

The podcast launched with a visually striking identity that resonated with HPE’s target audience and elevated the brand’s creative presence. One executive remarked: “This looks like something that should be hanging in MoMA.” The solution also set a new internal standard for how HPE approaches branding for thought leadership content.