The was

In an era where data reigns supreme, even the titans of finance must evolve. Moody’s name 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, a gap emerged between their capabilities and customer perception. To close it, Moody’s invested in a refreshed brand identity designed and developed by Interbrand.

However, Moody's still faced major challenges with their data - the lifeblood of their business was trapped in outdated, inconsistent formats that failed to reflect the company's true value proposition. Multiple teams were producing charts without a unified approach, leading to inconsistent visual outputs across the organization.

The How

Our team with the support of our partner 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 ecosystem.

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

Working collaboratively with multiple internal teams, we refined our approach to meet diverse needs while maintaining a cohesive identity. Our rigorous color accessibility audit set a new standard, eventually being inserted into the entire brand system beyond just data visualization.

The result was a data visualization 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 an histogram
2. A flexible color system that addresses all use cases, including those specific to the financial risk industry, while prioritizing accessibility with more than X color palettes available in two modes.
3. 15-20 exemplar charts showcasing the system's versatility.
4. All packaged with Design recommendations and Best practices forming a 89 pages of comprehensive guidelines.

The Impact

Since the launch, Moody's has prominently featured editorial data visualizations in their brand relaunch event. Their LinkedIn presence has surged, with data visualizations becoming a key driver of engagement.

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

From century-old credit rater 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 connected risks.