SCImago

SCImago is a global leader in data analysis and the development of metrics in the scientific field. Through its open knowledge solutions, combined with consulting services, the team—made up entirely of PhD-level professionals—helps the academic world unlock the full power of information.

SCImago is also a pioneering organization led by Félix de Moya (University of Granada, CSIC). Despite its longstanding reputation in the field it was born into, the company chose to explore new paths to deliver even greater value to organizations and society. That’s the context in which SCImago Media Rankings was created: a platform that measures the impact of the world’s leading media outlets.

They came to Soluble with a clear goal: to help bring visibility to the extraordinary work behind the data, so that journalists, researchers, and institutional leaders could use it to strengthen the media ecosystem and, with it, society at large.

A rara avis

During the immersion process, we carried out extensive benchmarking and interviews with the team behind the project. Through that work, we discovered that SCImago Media Rankings was, above all, a truly singular entity. It wasn’t an audience measurement company, nor was it an academic project. But it carried the DNA of both. It operated in the intersection. A space that, until now, had been largely overlooked.

The elixir

Since the rise of the internet as the main source of readership for written media, audience measurement has played a key role. Depending on their interests, publishers have relied on different sources—so they always looked good in the picture. What was missing was a global, objective, and independent view of the digital reputation of media companies.

With that perspective, advertisers and comms directors, for instance, can better understand which impacts truly matter for their brands. And citizens can more clearly see which media outlets hold the most prestige.

Understanding to align and encapsulate

All paths led to the same conclusion: SCImago Media Rankings operates in the territory of proactive trust. It offers curated information and reliable data managed by a top-tier team, both within SCImago and through collaborators with deep experience in the journalism world.

Their shared purpose? To strengthen meaningful journalism through knowledge.

It’s a kind of usefulness rooted in the trust that scientific rigor and independence provide. Value for society, for media professionals, and even for journalism students. At the same time, SCImago continues to build synergies with other tools, like the SCImago Institutions Ranking, in its steady effort to expand the power of data beyond its current borders.

Three strategic pillars define the reality of a wise, governing brand. One shaped by the personality of a lead researcher: academically accomplished, and deeply committed to the real-world impact of their work.

A visual identity built for the future

SCImago’s universe is rich and deeply compelling. That’s why we had to think in the short, medium, and long term. We preserved what already worked and was recognizable—like the project’s signature color within the company’s verticals—while designing a scalable brand identity, one that could eventually extend across the entire portfolio, even to the parent brand if needed.

The first foundational element of the visual identity is the modular system, inspired by SCImago’s iconic charts and designed to support a flexible layout across any digital application.

These modules also became the basis for the isotype, a simple, geometric, digital-first symbol built on a logic that can be applied to other projects through clear guidelines. A system built for agility and clarity, reducing uncertainty as SCImago evolves and expands its brand architecture.

The second core element is drawn from the editorial and scientific world: conveying proactive trust, expertise, and neutrality is a strategic priority. The typeface, which is highly legible in every weigh, follows that same principle.

Verbal identity, journalistic by nature

To complete the set of tangible elements that bring the brand to life, we developed a verbal identity inspired by journalistic writing and smart brevity. Structured (in)formation designed for clarity. Grounded in the expertise of the SCImago team.

Product and content design

Our work with SCImago Media Rankings came full circle with the launch of a new website, the main touchpoint for exploring and extracting value from SMR’s data.

We restructured the homepage to better communicate the usefulness of its tools, while also considering how to integrate the team’s data visualizations built with SCImago Graphica.

We also tackled the visual design, based on the new identity, and used UX writing to clearly convey what SCImago Media Rankings is, what it offers, and the core elements of its strategic positioning.

After this project, we’re continuing to work alongside SCImago to make sure it looks as good as it truly is. More to come. Much more.