A Brand to turn the tide on climate change with Ocean-Based CO₂ Removal

Building the foundation for a science-backed movement with global reach

The Carbon to Sea Initiative is pioneering one of the most promising, scalable climate solutions of our time: ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE). As the largest philanthropic funder of OAE research, they are shaping global understanding of this approach—and ensuring it’s backed by real-world science. Their field research network, policy leadership, and commitment to transparency position them as a trusted voice in the carbon removal ecosystem.

But with a new initiative in a complex and rapidly evolving field, Carbon to Sea faced a unique challenge: how do you communicate credibility, clarity, and urgency—without overwhelming or oversimplifying?
 We partnered closely with their team to answer that question, delivering a full naming and brand strategy, visual identity, and a scalable website to support their global mission.

A name that commands trust and purpose

OAE is still emerging—and crowded with acronyms, technical language, and overlapping efforts. We worked to develop a name that was scientifically grounded, immediately understandable, and aligned with their values.

After a strategic evaluation of dozens of naming directions, Carbon to Sea Initiative rose to the top: clear, transparent, and anchored in mission. The name positions the initiative as a rigorous, ethical leader—while making space for accessibility, policy engagement, and public trust.

A brand identity built to scale alongside the science

Carbon to Sea’s work is rooted in research, but built for global impact. Their brand needed to reflect that balance—serious and professional, but not sterile; credible, but never inaccessible.

At the center of the identity is a custom logomark that evokes the movement of ocean currents—grounded, minimal, and intentionally abstract. The wordmark complements the symbol with a refined, serif typeface that balances elegance with scientific credibility. Together, they form a logo system that signals trust across scientific, philanthropic, and public audiences.

Additional brand system elements include:

• A neutral base palette that signals transparency and longevity, with coral accents to highlight urgency and draw attention to key actions
• Structured grid systems and oversized numerals that organize complex content and emphasize scale
• Typography chosen for both precision and accessibility
• Imagery that blends atmospheric ocean photography with monochromatic team portraits to humanize the mission

Every detail—across digital, print, and live experiences—reinforces a cohesive narrative of scientific integrity, ethical action, and global ambition.

A digital platform to educate, engage, and evolve, and inspire action

With stakeholders ranging from climate scientists to policymakers to the general public, the website needed to deliver technical content without friction—while inviting participation and support. We crafted a website that serves as a hub for collaboration, research dissemination, and stakeholder engagement.

Designed for distinctly different audiences

The website serves a broad coalition of users, each with different needs—and stakes. We designed pathways that deliver the right content to the right people, fast.

• Policymakers can quickly access critical research and policy-relevant insights
• Funders are presented with a clear, data-driven case for investment in scalable CO₂ removal
• Public audiences are guided through complex science in a digestible, transparent way

Built for clarity, designed to drive action

A clear information hierarchy and intentional design system make the site approachable, engaging, and efficient to navigate.

• Structured page layouts create a natural flow through content
• Oversized numerals and key data points spotlight scale and urgency
• Vibrant coral accents highlight calls to action without overwhelming the experience

Engineered to grow with the mission

Built on a flexible, performance-optimized foundation, the site was made to evolve alongside Carbon to Sea’s expanding research and reach.

• Developed using WordPress and ACF Blocks for modular, easy-to-update content
• Lightweight and optimized to minimize digital footprint and maximize accessibility
• Integrated SEO structure ensures Carbon to Sea’s work reaches the right people, wherever they’re searching

Where science meets story, and momentum becomes movement

Since launch, Carbon to Sea has expanded its network and global research, and accelerated conversations with funders, regulators, and climate partners. Their brand is now doing more than introducing the initiative—it’s advancing the conversation on responsible, science-backed CO₂ removal.

From naming to design to platform engineering, we helped bring shape to a mission that’s rewriting the future of climate action. This project represents what we do best: collaborating with teams tackling big, meaningful problems—and building the strategy and systems that help them scale.