Democratising entrepreneurship at a global scale
Harvard Business School Foundry set out to democratise entrepreneurship.
They wanted to give founders outside the traditional MBA path the structure, tools and support to build something real. DHD partnered with Foundry on two connected projects:
- First, establishing the brand identity system that would carry the platform across every touchpoint.
- Secondly, bringing that identity to life on screen as lead post-production partner for its flagship podcast, The Founder Mindset.
Combined YouTube views for The Founder Mindset in its first 2 months
Total engagements including 295 comments and 7.4k likes
Post-production hours delivered, and counting
“I feel like when it comes to creative briefs, sometimes the work doesn’t quite land, sometimes it meets expectations perfectly, and then there are those moments when something truly exceeds what you hoped for. The latter was the case with DHD”
Its first episode, with Reese Witherspoon, passed 200,000 YouTube views, ignited conversation across social media, and was featured in Fortune, one of the world’s leading business publications.
The Challenge
Foundry needed a brand that felt as ambitious and credible as Harvard’s legacy, but distinct enough to speak to a new generation of founders. One that could scale across a digital-first platform, not just a logo on a page.
When Foundry later launched The Founder Mindset, that same identity had to translate into fast-turnaround film production that maintained a consistent, premium identity across every episode. With guests like Reese Witherspoon, Tim Ferriss, Kevin O’Leary and Alix Earle, the post-production had to match the calibre of the talent.
The process
- We established a visual identity system rooted in Harvard’s parent brand but built to feel grounded, confident and accessible. From there we extended the system across the platform itself: Dashboard UI design, UX audits, and a library of video overlays, social templates and digital collateral to help the Foundry team create content quickly.
- When The Founder Mindset launched, we carried that identity into post-production, partnering with HBSF’s internal team to accelerate their workflow. We built premium animated lower thirds and call-out banners, delivered as Motion Graphics Templates (MOGRTs) so the team could easily update graphics in-house.For each episode. we turned guest biographies into dynamic animated stories, and edited full episodes for founders Kevin O’Leary and Alix Earle, bringing out the strongest insights while honouring authenticity.
Solution
A brand system built to grow with Foundry’s mission, and a podcast that looks and sounds every bit as premium as its guest list. Together they help HBSF show up with the same ambition, clarity and confidence across every touchpoint, from platform to podcast.
