Moderna
Moderna
A global digital presence for a biotech leader redefining healthcare.
A global digital presence for a biotech leader redefining healthcare.


About
About
Moderna, a biotech company that exploded in popularity and investment interest through the pandemic, suddenly needed a global professional presence. Taking their simple wordpress site and lack of brand awareness, we explored a multitude of branded avenues to stand out against their pharmaceutical competitors. They had the sudden need to create sites within each of the countries that they were dispersing their mRNA COVID vaccine in. Crafting a composable design system to create a consistent brand identity across regional and national differences, incorporating language and locational nuance, the team and I were able to use atomic design methodology combined with a headless CMS (contentful) to empower everything from the versions of utility tools (checking the temperature of the vaccine vials) to the corporate investor information and product pipeline (for other upcoming mRNA vaccines).
Moderna, a biotech company that exploded in popularity and investment interest through the pandemic, suddenly needed a global professional presence. Taking their simple wordpress site and lack of brand awareness, we explored a multitude of branded avenues to stand out against their pharmaceutical competitors. They had the sudden need to create sites within each of the countries that they were dispersing their mRNA COVID vaccine in. Crafting a composable design system to create a consistent brand identity across regional and national differences, incorporating language and locational nuance, the team and I were able to use atomic design methodology combined with a headless CMS (contentful) to empower everything from the versions of utility tools (checking the temperature of the vaccine vials) to the corporate investor information and product pipeline (for other upcoming mRNA vaccines).
Role
Role
Product Design Principle
Product Design Principle
Platform
Platform
Web
Web
Client
Client
Moderna
Moderna
Type
Type
Digital Experience
Digital Experience
,
,
Biotech and Pharma
Biotech and Pharma
Year
Year
2021
2021
Focus
Focus
Scalable design system, rapid rollout of global vaccine content, healthcare storytelling
Scalable design system, rapid rollout of global vaccine content, healthcare storytelling



Challenge
Challenge
Moderna needed to evolve from a little-known biotech firm into a globally trusted healthcare brand. With demand for mRNA vaccines skyrocketing and country-specific requirements emerging rapidly, we had to build a digital presence that could scale fast—across languages, regulations, and audiences—without sacrificing clarity, trust, or brand integrity.
Moderna needed to evolve from a little-known biotech firm into a globally trusted healthcare brand. With demand for mRNA vaccines skyrocketing and country-specific requirements emerging rapidly, we had to build a digital presence that could scale fast—across languages, regulations, and audiences—without sacrificing clarity, trust, or brand integrity.
My Role
My Role
Led high-fidelity prototyping and hands-on UI execution
Collaborated with SMEs, strategy, and devs on global digital launches
Built and maintained a scalable component system in Figma
Contributed to brand expansion through digital interaction patterns
Supported multiple concurrent tracks of work under tight timelines
Led high-fidelity prototyping and hands-on UI execution
Collaborated with SMEs, strategy, and devs on global digital launches
Built and maintained a scalable component system in Figma
Contributed to brand expansion through digital interaction patterns
Supported multiple concurrent tracks of work under tight timelines






Focus
Focus
Across initiatives—mRNA education, vaccine logistics tools, MedHub for research documents, and Moderna’s corporate site—I partnered with stakeholders to define feature priorities and batch workstreams. We scoped out MVPs quickly and made strategic bets to serve a rapidly expanding global audience.
Across initiatives—mRNA education, vaccine logistics tools, MedHub for research documents, and Moderna’s corporate site—I partnered with stakeholders to define feature priorities and batch workstreams. We scoped out MVPs quickly and made strategic bets to serve a rapidly expanding global audience.
Insights
Insights
With limited access to real users, we leaned on a trusted in-house SME (a practicing physician) and client stakeholders. They helped us prioritize key information for healthcare professionals, investors, and the general public, with a mobile-first mindset—knowing many doctors would view this between patients, on the go.
With limited access to real users, we leaned on a trusted in-house SME (a practicing physician) and client stakeholders. They helped us prioritize key information for healthcare professionals, investors, and the general public, with a mobile-first mindset—knowing many doctors would view this between patients, on the go.



Hands On
Hands On
I built high-fidelity, motion-rich prototypes to communicate advanced concepts, transitions, and UI logic—essential for a company undergoing a brand evolution. These helped Moderna envision how their identity could scale beyond print and into a dynamic, trusted digital presence.
I built high-fidelity, motion-rich prototypes to communicate advanced concepts, transitions, and UI logic—essential for a company undergoing a brand evolution. These helped Moderna envision how their identity could scale beyond print and into a dynamic, trusted digital presence.
Systems
Systems
We built a composable, scalable design system using atomic methodology to support global rollouts. This included a modular UI library housed in Figma, paired with a headless CMS (Contentful) for flexible regional deployment. Typography, color, and motion were all defined early and expanded as needed.
We built a composable, scalable design system using atomic methodology to support global rollouts. This included a modular UI library housed in Figma, paired with a headless CMS (Contentful) for flexible regional deployment. Typography, color, and motion were all defined early and expanded as needed.






Outcome
Outcome
Enabled global rollout of country-specific vaccine sites
Launched mRNA education microsite, later featured on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Supported Moderna’s transition into a recognizable global brand
Delivered a scalable system that empowered regional teams and CMS authors
Enabled global rollout of country-specific vaccine sites
Launched mRNA education microsite, later featured on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Supported Moderna’s transition into a recognizable global brand
Delivered a scalable system that empowered regional teams and CMS authors
Highlights
Highlights
Built motion-animated prototypes to drive brand evolution
Designed within complex regulatory, accessibility, and translation needs
Created tools for public health and HCP audiences with mobile-first logic
Supported Moderna’s shift from pharma newcomer to global biotech leader
Built motion-animated prototypes to drive brand evolution
Designed within complex regulatory, accessibility, and translation needs
Created tools for public health and HCP audiences with mobile-first logic
Supported Moderna’s shift from pharma newcomer to global biotech leader



What I learned
Scaling a design system fast is possible with clarity and collaboration
Brand evolution must balance bold ambition with public trust
SMEs are invaluable proxies when time doesn’t allow for user testing
Healthcare tools benefit immensely from simplicity and delight
Tools
Figma
Principle
After Effects
Slack
Miro
Credits
Brian Cass
Design Lead
Aaron Aylward
Senior Designer
Leo Leone
Associate Design Director
Leona DeSouza
UX Design
Credits
Brian Cass
Design Lead
Aaron Aylward
Senior Designer
Leo Leone
Associate Design Director
Leona DeSouza
UX Design
Tools
Figma
Principle
After Effects
Slack
Miro
What i Learned
Scaling a design system fast is possible with clarity and collaboration
Brand evolution must balance bold ambition with public trust
SMEs are invaluable proxies when time doesn’t allow for user testing
Healthcare tools benefit immensely from simplicity and delight