The University of Hertfordshire proudly supports cutting edge research and technological innovation, providing guidance and financial backing to ideas that can be of benefit to society. To showcase this, a number of key projects are establishing individual brand propositions and identities that will help bring their products and services to market. As further brands develop, they will all be united with a simple kite mark – a signifier of excellence and assurance of expertise from Herts.

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Kaspar, the friendly robot, is helping children with autism to communicate more comfortably. Backed by eight years of research and development, Kaspar is showing significant results with plans to move into production to enable further school and home trials – and the ultimate ambition of an online community with discussion, support, advice and sharing of insight and data. Drawing on the simplistic form and expressions that make Kaspar so successful, the identity has a real sense of positivity and joy. Staying true to the essence of the university brand, but giving Kaspar a life of his own.

With a strong identity and story to tell, the team felt more confident to enter talks with potential manufacturers, to define a service delivery model. Meanwhile, Kaspar continued to attract great interest from the research community, carers and families and the media.