Upstream - Branding & Product Development

Crafting a cohesive brand experience and product development for a solution dedicated to the decarbonization mission.

Upstream is a carbon management platform built for manufacturing enterprises with global operations. It simplifies the ESG process – covering emissions calculation, renewable procurement, and disclosure reporting – while offering instant access to carbon markets. Unlike many enterprise-heavy platforms such as Watershed and Persefoni, which often feel dense and slow, Upstream needed to launch an MVP that could deliver quotes in seconds, provide an approachable experience for non-expert users, and integrate seamlessly with renewable certification systems.

We partnered with the Upstream team to build both the brand identity and the product itself. The visual language modernized the recognizable carbon bubble motif into a flexible system that balanced enterprise professionalism with accessibility. On the product side, we carried out full-cycle UX research and design, mapping user journeys, building prototypes, running usability testing, and ultimately delivering a design library in Figma tied directly to React components. At the development level, we integrated the Evident API to give users in-platform I-REC registry control, eliminating the manual workflows that had long slowed the industry.

The results were immediate and measurable. The MVP launched on schedule in Q4 2023, enabling manufacturing clients to calculate emissions and procure offsets in minutes rather than weeks. The platform cut out friction, reduced wait times, and delivered a streamlined certification process that previously required external steps. The scalable design system and professional brand identity resonated not just with operational teams but also with enterprise buyers, positioning Upstream as a credible and innovative force in the carbon management market.

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