The challenge
Nestled in the heart of Idaho, Boise State University has something special. While international students might instantly recognise New York’s skyline or California’s beaches, Boise offers something equally valuable. America’s #1 most livable city (as voted in 2019) boasts strong industry connections, and a driven, high-energy campus surrounded by the serenity of a breathtaking wilderness.
But how do you showcase a world-class education in a location that international students might not be able to immediately pick out on a map?
Standing out in a competitive global recruitment landscape requires more than just great programs and rankings. Today’s students expect a seamless, visually engaging experience that helps them envision their life at a university from thousands of miles away.
About Boise State University
- Idaho, USA
- 27,250 students
- 2 brochures
- 1 snapshot
Boise State approached us with a clear goal: create a compelling, interactive digital guide that would not only showcase their academic offerings but also brings Boise State's bold identity to life for students around the globe, transforming the unfamiliar into somewhere that feels like home.
The solution
With the digital guide, we weren’t just aiming for a brochure; we were aiming for as close as possible to an open day experience.
This means getting to know the campus, both the facilities available and the energy of the student body who reside there. We highlighted why this unexpected location consistently ranks among America’s most livable cities, from its thriving tech scene to the mountains, rivers, and trails that become students’ extended classroom.
It isn’t just about selling a pretty city, either. No point in having a gorgeous brochure that doesn’t tell anyone what they actually need to know. Incorporating clear information about Boise State’s costs, scholarships, and application processes, structured with an intuitive flow from information to conversion, ensures students can easily transition from inspiration to action.
Throughout the guide, the photography provided by Boise State played a critical role.
Instead of static building shots, we showcased students celebrating at graduation, cheering at football games, and collaborating in innovation spaces—all moments that capture the university’s “Boldly Blue. Proudly Innovating” ethos. Boise State’s iconic blue and orange colour palette served as both a design anchor and a storytelling tool, reinforcing the university’s dynamic brand personality across each page.
The results
The final product is an immersive, on-brand, and user-friendly digital guide that acts as a powerful opening statement for Boise State’s international recruitment. Testimonials from current international students provide authentic, peer-driven insights into life on campus, while practical guidance around costs, scholarships, and application processes ensures students have everything they need to take the next step.
In keeping with our broader strategy for all our client publications, the experience is mobile-friendly, highly navigable, and analytics-enabled, giving Boise State’s recruitment team valuable insights into how the guide is being used and where engagement is highest.
By translating Boise State’s bold brand into an interactive, student-centered digital journey, we’ve helped international students discover that sometimes the most rewarding study experiences happen off the beaten path, where blue turf thinking and boundless opportunity lead to a uniquely valuable educational journey.
Analytics
