CLIENT – IBM
PROJECT – Podcast brand toolkit
ROLE – Designer

CHALLENGE
IBM is positioning itself not just as a hardware/software company, but as a content creator with a robust hub of podcasts, tech explainers, blog articles, and more.

CONSIDERATIONS
Stand out in a crowded space: Both YouTube and podcast platforms are overwhelmed with tech and AI content, so the small thumbnail had to set a new podcast apart. Also, IBM-owned channels were also filled with very similar (blue) visuals.

Ease of production: Since these episodes are produced weekly, there is very little turnaround time between taping, editing and posting. Creating simple templates for non-designers to use removed unnecessary friction in that process.

SOLUTION
“Mixture of Experts” is a clever title because it refers to both “a machine learning approach that divides an artificial intelligence (AI) model into separate sub-networks” as well as the format of the show. The cover graphic is a nod to that diagram.

I utilized a non-traditional color palette from the brand’s robust design system. It still tied into other IBM content in their owned spaces, but stood out in the AI category.

A reusable toolkit (including gallery matte, lower thirds, animated introductions and transitions, and episode thumbnails) provided a cohesive look for the podcast launch and future episodes.