International Space University
Bringing Space Education to a Global Stage
Founded in 1987, the International Space University (ISU) has built its educational approach around international, interdisciplinary, and intercultural collaboration, preparing professionals to work across the many disciplines that shape the space sector. Its education brings together perspectives from science and engineering, business, policy, law, and other space-related fields.
Unboxed worked with ISU to translate that breadth into a clear visual presence. Our work included conceptualizing and branding the university’s exhibition booths for IAC 2023 and IAC 2024, alongside designing marketing brochures for its Master of Science in Space Studies.
The Challenge
Make a Complex Educational Offering Clear and Compelling
Space education spans multiple disciplines, career paths, and professional interests. Communicating that breadth within an exhibition environment requires a careful balance of visual impact and accessible information.
The challenge was to give ISU a booth presence that could:
- Establish a recognizable identity within a busy international exhibition.
- Communicate its educational purpose to visitors from different backgrounds.
- Balance academic credibility with the ambition associated with the space sector.
- Carry a consistent visual language into brochures promoting its Master of Science in Space Studies.
The work needed to attract attention at a distance while offering enough clarity to support a closer conversation.
Our Approach
Connect the Exhibition Experience with the Educational Story
We approached the booths and brochures as connected expressions of ISU’s identity.
The exhibition concepts provided the initial point of contact: a branded environment through which visitors could recognize the university and explore its educational offering. The brochures provided a more detailed format for presenting the Master of Science in Space Studies.
Our design approach focused on visual consistency, clear information hierarchy, and a balance between imagery and academic content. Each format had a different role, but both needed to communicate the same institution with confidence and clarity.
Execution Strategy
From Booth Concept to Programme Brochure
- Developed booth concepts for two IAC editions: Conceptualized ISU’s exhibition presence for IAC 2023 in Baku and IAC 2024 in Milan.
- Applied ISU branding to the exhibition environment: Developed the visual treatment and branded graphics for the university’s booths.
- Balanced visibility with information: Used design hierarchy to distinguish institutional branding from supporting programme communication.
- Designed MSc marketing brochures: Created brochure layouts to support the promotion of ISU’s Master of Science in Space Studies.
- Connected exhibition and print communication: Maintained a recognizable relationship between the booth presentation and supporting marketing materials.
Impact & Results
A Well Received Presence Across Two Global Events
Audience Appreciation: The booth concepts and branding were positively received by audiences at IAC 2023 and IAC 2024, reflecting the appeal of ISU’s exhibition presentation.
A Consistent Institutional Presence: The work carried ISU’s identity across two consecutive international congresses, connecting its exhibition branding with supporting programme materials.
Dedicated Materials for Programme Marketing: The brochures gave ISU a designed format for presenting its Master of Science in Space Studies, supporting conversations about the programme beyond the initial visual introduction.
A Portfolio Spanning Exhibition and Print: The completed work demonstrated how an educational institution’s identity could translate across a physical exhibition setting and detailed marketing collateral.
What We Actually Did
IAC 2023 Booth Concept and Branding
Conceptualized and branded ISU’s booth for the International Astronautical Congress in Baku, developing an exhibition presentation suited to the university’s educational identity and international audience.
IAC 2024 Booth Concept and Branding
Conceptualized and branded ISU’s booth for the following edition in Milan, continuing the university’s visual presence at a major gathering of the global space community.
Exhibition Graphic Design
Designed branded graphics for the booth environments, bringing institutional identity and educational communication into a coordinated presentation.
Master of Science in Space Studies Brochures
Designed marketing brochures for ISU’s Master of Science in Space Studies, using layout, typography, imagery, and information hierarchy to present the programme in an accessible format.
Visual Consistency Across Touchpoints
Connected the exhibition and brochure work through a consistent application of ISU’s branding, helping the materials read as parts of the same institutional story.
Key Takeaway
Give the Mission a Presence People Can Connect With
An institution’s expertise needs a clear expression when it meets a new audience.
Through booth concepts, event branding, and programme brochures, Unboxed helped ISU present its educational mission across two international space congresses. The work connected the visibility of an exhibition environment with the detail of academic marketing, giving visitors a recognizable introduction and a reason to explore further.