C89.5 Radio

C89.5 is a beloved Seattle-based radio station with a highly diverse audience. Many listeners have a personal connection to the high school where the station is based. We partnered with them to give back to this vibrant community by providing design services that would help strengthen their identity and reach.

The station wanted to expand its audience while maintaining a strong connection with its existing community. The visual identity needed to resonate across multiple demographics and be easy for students to implement across various materials. The new design also had to preserve the station’s lighthearted and quirky personality.

Through field research and interviews, we gathered insights into potential opportunities. We developed personas to prioritize ideas and identified key areas of improvement, focusing on a refreshed brand identity and an interactive digital experience to engage younger listeners.

For the digital experience, I worked in a small team to develop a web application that allowed users to vote on which song should play next. Gamification elements gave the audience a sense of influence and control over the station’s programming, fostering a stronger community connection. After storyboarding and brainstorming, we launched a short sprint to build the app prototype, integrating it with a Spotify playlist. Users could cast their votes through the website or via Arduino button inputs to determine which of two tracks would play next.

For the branding, we aimed to reflect the station’s community focus and emphasis on individual expression. The identity system was based on circles and doughnuts, symbolizing unity and individuality. These elements formed the logo and became the foundation for dynamic visual compositions that appeared to “dance.” A bright RGB color spectrum captured the station’s youthful energy and playful spirit, reinforcing its unique presence in Seattle’s music scene.