Case Study · Cultural NGO · 2026
Brand Transformation & Enterprise Design Architecture
IPN — Preserving the indigenous Náhuat language through an enterprise-grade digital identity system
The Problem
A language on the verge of extinction — with a digital presence that proved it
IPN's mission is irreplaceable: the preservation of Náhuat, an indigenous Salvadoran language spoken by fewer people each generation. But their digital platform communicated grassroots urgency instead of institutional authority — the exact inverse of what international funders need to see before committing resources.
They needed a digital presence that didn't just explain the mission. It needed to embody the credibility of the work.
"Their mission was irreplaceable. Their digital presence was indistinguishable from a student project."
The redesigned IPN web experience — donation conversion paths, an interactive verb conjugator, and editorial hierarchy built on a strict 12-column grid.
The Nawi Ulin Identity System
"Four Movements" — a logo built from three historical layers
Every element of the mark traces to pre-Columbian archaeology and Náhuat linguistics — synthesized into an emblem that reads as both ancestral and institutional.
The Ancestral Root
Human profile inspired by pre-Columbian clay figurines from Tazumal and UNESCO site Joya de Cerén.
The Place of Jewels
Perfect circle in Chalchiwit jade — Kuskatan, the ancestral name for "Place of Precious Stones."
The Living Word
Scroll in Achiyut combining glyphs for breath, speech, and flowers — active rebirth of cultural heritage.
Each element annotated with its archaeological and linguistic source — documentation built for institutional audiences.
Color System
A mathematically scaled tokenized palette — built for developer handoff
The Nawi Ulin color system expands the ancestral palette into a full technical spectrum. Each of five culturally named base colors — Achiyut, Chalchiwit, Shikilit, Senpualshuchit, and Tal — is scaled mathematically from 50 to 800. This tokenization provides the exact flexibility needed for interactive states and visual hierarchies while remaining rooted in the cultural visual language.
Five culturally named color ramps, each scaled 50–800 — designed for systematic application across all UI states.
Typography
Alegreya superfamily — editorial authority and digital utility in one system
The serif variant delivers editorial authority for display headings; the sans-serif maximises legibility for functional UI elements. Every size in the hierarchy follows the strict 8-point spatial framework — mathematical constraints that guarantee consistent vertical rhythm and simplify developer handoff across all screen sizes.
Complete typographic hierarchy documented in Náhuat — Display/5XL through Body/Large, every size ratio locked to the 8-point grid.
Spatial Framework
12-column fluid grid & 8-point system — "Nuestra Retícula Ulin"
Wide horizontal margins evoke the reading experience of a printed book or museum plaque — keeping the user focused on the cultural weight of the words. Every internal spacing decision is a strict multiple of 8px, eliminating arbitrary values, ensuring harmony across the ecosystem, and making the layout predictable for any developer who inherits it.
12-column fluid grid with 24px gutters — the contained reading experience of a museum catalogue, translated to digital.
Accessibility
WCAG AAA compliance — designed in, not bolted on
Accessibility standards were embedded as hard constraints from the first token decision — not audited after delivery. Every text/background combination involving Achiyut, Shikilit, or Tal was tested under WCAG AAA standards, ensuring the Náhuat language and educational materials remain readable for all users, including elders and students with diverse visual needs.
WCAG AAA contrast testing — Tal/Superficie, Achiyut/Acción, and Shikilit/Profundidad pairings, all verified at ≥7:1 ratio.
Deliverables
The Nawi Ulin Design System — enterprise-grade, ready for 2026 build
Four interconnected deliverables that together form a complete, handoff-ready design infrastructure — not a static mockup, but a living system that developers can implement without interpretation.
01
Tokenized brand identity
Logo, color system, and typography as Figma design tokens for direct developer handoff.
02
Component-driven Figma library
Full component architecture with variants, states, and auto-layout — scalable by any future team.
03
Digital web experience
Complete UI redesign with clear conversion paths for donations, educational tools, and community engagement.
04
Accessibility documentation
WCAG AAA sign-off with contrast ratios documented for every semantic color token.
Outcome
Institutional credibility, unlocked
The Nawi Ulin Design System gave IPN the digital authority to pursue international funding at a level their previous platform couldn't support. The system is fully engineered for the 2026 technical build — a developer can pick it up without a single design clarification call.
Credibility shift
Grassroots → institutional authority
Funding readiness
International donors now a viable path
Launch status
Fully unblocked for 2026 technical build