Knowledge Equity Network
The Knowledge Equity Network (KEN) is a global initiative by the University of Leeds designed to make knowledge more accessible and inclusive. Developed in collaboration with Magpie, KEN unites universities, organisations, and individuals worldwide in a shared mission to reduce inequalities in higher education through open collaboration and equitable knowledge-sharing.
This partnership set out to design a brand and digital presence that reflects KEN’s mission, to share knowledge freely, value diverse perspectives, and empower people everywhere to create a fairer, more connected world.
Client
University of Leeds
Scope of work
- Accessibility
- Brand development & visual identity
- Stakeholder engagement
- UX and website development
Promoting collaboration for a fairer future
Commissioned by the University of Leeds, the Knowledge Equity Network encourages institutions and individuals to adopt inclusive and sustainable practices in how knowledge is created and shared. The network helps reduce global inequalities. This is achieved by making research, education, and resources more accessible to everyone, regardless of geography, language, or income.
Magpie’s brand development approach began by exploring global disparities in knowledge sharing within the context of a knowledge equity network. They engaged deeply with the audiences central to KEN’s success.
Inclusive strategies for global connection
We facilitated co-creation workshops with academics, researchers, and service staff across the university. This ensured a representative and inclusive foundation for the brand. From these sessions emerged the name Knowledge Equity Network. It was tested for cultural resonance in six languages (French, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Mandarin, and Hindi). This was to ensure meaning translated across borders. Accessibility and inclusivity guided every design decision.
- The KEN logo, a circle of arrows, symbolises collaboration and global interconnectedness.
- A vibrant, contrasting colour palette enhances readability and represents the diversity of the global knowledge community.
- Sans-serif typography with wide language support supports clarity across devices and languages.
- The light load mobile-friendly website, includes alternative text and intuitive navigation for users worldwide.
Evidence-based design and storytelling
The KEN brand was grounded in three evidence-based design principles:
- Co-created identity. Shaped through collaboration with academics and service staff specialising in open education and research, ensuring the brand reflects shared ownership and expertise.
- Human-centred design. Informed by research showing that inclusive design fosters engagement and trust, especially among communities historically excluded from academic spaces.
- Storytelling for impact. The hybrid launch event brought the brand to life through real stories of how KEN aims to support underrepresented scholars and regions. By centring human stories, the event built emotional connection and encouraged action through new signatories to the KEN Declaration.
Effective global reach
Designed to resonate with a diverse international audience, the KEN brand speaks clearly across languages and cultures. Inclusive design choices, multilingual testing, and accessibility-focused features have helped KEN build a truly global presence, demonstrated in high website engagement and a growing international signatory base.
CLIENT TESTIMONIAL
“The Magpie team’s collaborative and inclusive approach ensured the brand truly reflected our mission of openness, inclusivity, and sustainability in knowledge sharing. We’re proud of the impact the brand is having globally and are grateful for the care taken to consider and engage our diverse community and stakeholders every step of the way.”
Lasting social impact
The Knowledge Equity Network Declaration commits signatories to reducing inequalities by enhancing access to knowledge through collaboration, inclusivity, and sustainability in higher education.
Through shared values and collective learning, KEN is helping to build a global community of practice that removes barriers to research and education, enabling collaboration to address the world’s most pressing challenges, from climate change to inequality.
69
countries represented
28
higher education institutions
429
individual signatories and counting
Interested in inclusive knowledge sharing?
The Knowledge Equity Network demonstrates what’s possible when openness, equity, and collaboration guide innovation. By co-creating with communities and designing for accessibility, Magpie helped the University of Leeds build a brand that not only looks inclusive, it is inclusive. If you’re interested on collaborating on a similar project, get in touch.
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