HARVARD BIOSCIENCE
Role: Lead Creative (UX Strategy, Design System, Client Collaboration)
Agency: Third and Grove
Scope: Multi-brand platform redesign, UX architecture, design system, content + navigation strategy
Harvard Bioscience oversaw 16 separate brands across the biosciences — each with its own CMS, content, and design. Customers didn’t even realize these brands were connected, leaving HBIO’s full scope invisible. I led the redesign, creating a unified platform that brought the brands together into one hub: a true one-stop shop for laboratories sourcing everything from software to critical devices.
THE CHALLENGE
Each of HBIO’s 16 brands lived on its own site — with different CMSs, contributors, design languages, and functionality. There was no visible connection between them, so customers rarely understood they were part of the same HBIO family. This fractured presence undermined HBIO’s market position as a global biosciences leader, while creating inefficiency for editors managing updates across multiple systems.
The challenge was to consolidate these brands into a single platform that could flex to their unique needs, while still presenting a unified identity that made HBIO’s breadth clear. Midway through, budget cuts forced tough tradeoffs — requiring smart prioritization to keep high-impact features intact.
THE WORK
I designed a flexible system that unified HBIO’s brands under one digital umbrella, while still accommodating their individual offerings. The new platform introduced consistent navigation, search, and UX patterns to signal cohesion, paired with adaptable components that allowed each brand to highlight its differences. This reframed HBIO from “16 scattered sites” into a single destination that clearly showcased the company’s full scope — making it easier for labs to source everything they need in one place.
When budgets were cut mid-project, I worked with the PM and technical architect to reprioritize. I stepped in to advocate for preserving features critical to usability, while identifying lower-priority areas to scale back. This approach kept the client confident and allowed us to deliver a stronger product despite constraints.
The platform also included a new digital style guide and component library, giving HBIO a scalable foundation for future growth. In testing, the redesigned site scored in the high 90s to 100 on both ADA compliance and site speed — an exceptional achievement for such a large, complex site.
MY ROLE
I led creative direction from discovery through design. This included running sessions to understand the needs of each brand, mapping UX flows, designing components, and building a flexible design system. I collaborated directly with HBIO stakeholders and their Creative Director, managed freelancers for concepting and wireframing, and guided strategy when scope changes threatened usability.
OUTCOME
The platform was fully designed, developed, and prepared for content migration. Just before launch, internal client restructuring led to the project being shelved. Some of my component designs and brand refresh work were later incorporated into HBIO’s current live site, but the full structural redesign was never implemented. Still, the project delivered a beautiful, high-performing platform that set new standards for accessibility and scalability — earning rare praise from HBIO’s Creative Director as “the most beautiful thing I have seen.”