Doing good for health and life sciences
Design, scientific storytelling, and strategic brand services creating clarity from complexity.
At Cognition, we’re world-class strategists, science storytellers, and designers. By deepening understanding, catalyzing innovation, and solving business and communications problems, we work with global scientific leaders to create a healthier, more empowered world.
Vision
To ignite enduring global health advancements
For over two decades we’ve been partnering with innovative organizations who are dedicated to initiating or accelerating sustained progress in health and life sciences research, development and commercialization initiatives.
Our services feature: Science communication; Visual storytelling through medical illustration and animation; Brand & digital strategy; Design strategy & innovation.
Featured clients
- Bristol Myers Squibb
- Cytokinetics
- Flagship Pioneering
- Gates Foundation
- Gates Ventures
- Iovance Biotherapeutics
- Merck & Co.
- Moderna
- Pacira BioSciences
- Oxford Nanopore Technologies
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
- Ring Therapeutics
- Sana Biotechnology
- Veracyte
What we offer
Scientific breakthroughs often struggle to translate into real-world impact due to challenges in regulation, investment, and business strategy. We provide design, scientific storytelling, and strategic brand services to create clarity from complexity. With multidisciplinary expertise in the business of health and life sciences, we help innovative organizations ranging from biotech startups to established research institutions translate their scientific breakthroughs into real-world impact.
Projects
Do you have a scientific story to tell?
Featured articles
Explore our thoughts on how design, strategy, branding and science storytelling can drive progress and innovation in health and life sciences.
Designing strategic data visualizations (SDVs) for more effective global health decision-making
Leaning into the complexities of global health data to streamline effective decision-making.
The power of mentorship: building talent, culture, and confidence through fellowship
Mentorship isn’t extra—it’s essential. This article shows how structured mentorship and a yearlong Fellowship build creative leadership, culture, and confidence in science communication.
The eureka effect: using metaphor and symbolism to shape science brands
Metaphors and symbols make complex science memorable. This article shows how strategic metaphor and symbolic design shape brand clarity, personality, and trust in biotech.
Who owns the story? Ethical storytelling in patient care
Put patients first—build consent-led narratives that earn trust without compromising dignity. (published on Forbes.com)
Clarity and care: ethical design for big public health data
Ethical visualization turns complex epidemiological data into trustworthy insight—balancing clarity, privacy, and transparency to support evidence-based public health decisions.
The role of behavioral models in public health communication
Move from information to action—use behavioral frameworks to design public-health messages that change behavior. (published on Forbes.com)
Enhancing science and health communication with information design and data visualization
A comprehensive information design approach—rooted in cognition and user context—turns complex science and health data into accessible knowledge and action.
Science, stories and securing funds: how strategic communication seals the deal
Win capital by pairing bold vision with evidence—turn complex science into a de-risked, fundable story. (published on Forbes.com)
Illuminating the scientific value proposition to drive biotech innovation
Interdisciplinary science storytelling—rooted in SVP development and visual communication—helps upstream biotech teams secure investment, partnerships, and momentum.