The was

In an era where quality content reigns supreme, even some of the oldest, most trusted institutions must evolve. Moody’s has been synonymous with financial risk assessment for over a century. As the company expanded beyond credit ratings into data analytics and AI-driven solutions. Moody’s invested in a refreshed brand identity designed and developed by Interbrand, the refreshed brand went live in 2024.

At the same time, Moody’s sought a specialized partner to help translate its new visual identity and voice principles via data visualization design standards. Multiple teams were producing charts without a unified approach, leading to inconsistent visual outputs across the organization. The new guidelines would not only help align global design teams, but also help to communicate the brand’s new voice of being bold, clear and perceptive across all data visualizations, a new cornerstone of the company’s multi-channel storytelling.

The How

Our team, supporting Infogr8, launched a comprehensive strategy to revolutionize Moody's data visualization approach. Through extensive user interviews and a meticulous audit of over 270 existing charts, we uncovered pain points and opportunities within Moody's data visual storytelling ecosystem.

This informed our development of a phased approach to implement new data visualization design guidelines. We translated Moody's core values—Clear, Bold, and Perceptive—into tangible design decisions, creating a visual language that spoke volumes, and conducted a rigorous color accessibility audit that set a new standard.

Working collaboratively with multiple internal teams, we refined our approach to meet diverse needs while maintaining a cohesive identity.

The result was a data visualization design language that complements and propels forward Moody's brand transformation:

1. Core visual elements that infuse Moody's identity into every chart and graph from narrative text to spacing between bars of a histogram
2. A flexible color system that addresses all use cases, including those specific to the financial risk analysis industry, while prioritizing accessibility with more than 25 dataviz-specific color palettes options available in two modes.
3. 15-20 example charts showcasing the system's versatility.
4. All packaged with design recommendations and best practices forming 89-pages of comprehensive guidelines.

The Impact

Since the launch, Moody's has prominently featured editorial data visualizations throughout their strategic communications on moodys.com. Their LinkedIn presence and online engagement has increased, with data visualizations becoming a key driver.

Multiple teams have adopted the guidelines, reporting high satisfaction and ease of use.

From century-old credit rating agency to cutting-edge risk intelligence provider, Moody's visual transformation mirrors its business evolution. Our strategic design and data visualization work has empowered Moody's to do more than adapt to change—they now illuminate paths to prosperity in a world of interconnected risks.