Graduates
Back to Projects

Ronnie Alley

MFA in Graphic Design - 2 Yr Path — Graduate Graphic Design
Course:
Advanced Print Studio
Faculty:
Stephen Serrato
Term:
2025 Summer

ONE Institute

As the longest-running LGBTQ+ advocacy group in the U.S., home to the nation’s first queer magazine, and the world’s largest repository of LGBTQ+ artifacts, the ONE Institute holds an invaluable place in history. Yet despite their cultural weight, the brand lacked the vision and vibrancy it deserved. Recognizing the Institute’s significance to Los Angeles, I set out to reframe their story. 

View full project case study HERE.

Process:

I wanted to challenge myself with this project by visually defining what it means to be “queer.” With queerness understood as a rejection of societal norms, I explored design gestures that push against conventional expectations.

Drawing from the Institute’s archives, I developed a variable logo system inspired by historical mastheads and extended the identity through a reworked color treatment of their photographic library. For the primary print piece, I reimagined articles and poems from the original 1950s and 60s magazine into a new publication that expands its reach to a broader LGBTQIA+ audience.

Learning Outcomes:

Through this project, I came to appreciate the value embedded in an organization’s history, particularly the ONE Institute, and the role designers play in bringing that story forward. Rather than reinventing their identity, I focused on refining and amplifying their strongest attributes.

Project Website:
https://ronniealleydesign.com/projects/one-institute
Tags:
Branding,
Identity Design,
Motion Design,
Publication Design,
Web Design
Out of home posters show the flexibility in the color palette, archival images, and variable logo system.
From the onset of this project, I knew I wanted to revive the Institute’s magazine. What began in the 1950s and '60s as a publication focused on gay men’s issues, I sought to expand its reach to be more inclusive of today’s broader queer community.
The first reissue of the magazine is centered on what it means to be queer today. I collaborated with contemporary artists and writers, while also drawing from articles found in the original magazine, to explore this theme. What's revealed is both how much has changed and how many struggles remain the same.
As the primary point of contact for the public, I wanted to shift the Institute’s website from academic to accessible. What was once a dense, intimidating online archive is now a space where visitors can explore at their own pace. Structured like physical archival drawers, the site showcases curated collections, events, and the Institute’s history.
To educate the public on this resource we have in our city, I would place out-of-home ads strategically across LA’s creative neighborhoods and near key cultural institutions.
As a way to build community, I developed a series of events designed to bring the public to the Institute in person. From film screenings to art shows and lectures, the Institute shifts from being a solely academic space to becoming a cultural cornerstone for the city.
As an extension of the identity system, I wanted to create pieces that evoke a lifestyle brand. Designed for those who identify with the Institute’s mission and are proud to represent it within their community.