Cisco has become one of the largest cybersecurity companies in the world
Over the past 5 years, Cisco has expanded its security portfolio through many acquisitions and developed new platforms, products, and offerings to become a serious contender in the cybersecurity space. I worked on the Cisco Security Design & Brand Strategy team, where I was responsible for a wide range of print and digital assets.
Our goal was to create a cohesive visual identity system that complemented the broader Cisco brand while allowing flexibility for newly acquired products and teams.
Role
Web/Graphic Designer
Year
January 2022 – April 2024
Bringing Cisco’s cybersecurity vision to the global stage
As Cisco expanded into cybersecurity, I led design efforts for more than 20 international events each year, creating immersive booth experiences, large-format signage, branded handouts, giveaway items, and apparel. It was incredibly rewarding to see bold creative ideas brought to life on a global scale.
Cisco’s Secure the Enterprise Campaign
Cisco participates in the RSA Cybersecurity Conference each year, unveiling a fresh campaign that sets the tone for the year ahead. In 2023, our theme was “Secure the Enterprise” which was visualized through electric blue coils that represented Cisco's protection extending to every device, user, and application.
I contributed design work which evolved the campaign and booth graphics used throughout the year at additional international events.
Knowing your audience: Black Hat 2022
For the 2022 Black Hat conference, I led a bold strategic departure from Cisco’s standard brand style to better resonate with the event’s hacker-heavy audience. To align with the gritty, underground vibe of Black Hat, we used darker color palettes, layered textures, and abstract patterns, creating an aesthetic that felt more authentic and less polished. I also curated stock imagery that spoke directly to this demographic while maintaining Cisco Secure’s tone of trust and innovation.
Cisco XDR launch
I designed a range of assets for the 2023 launch of Cisco XDR, which earned over 27,000 content views in its first month.
One highlight was the "Security Operations Simplified" eBook, which drove more than 10,000 leads alone.
Digital banners & social media graphics
I regularly created digital advertising assets and social graphics, adhering to brand guidelines while delivering bold, clean visuals for demand generation and awareness campaigns.
Cisco Duo and the “collage style”
When Cisco acquired Duo, the security brand came with its own visual identity built around black-and-white photography, cut-paper shapes, and collage compositions that told visual stories. Our team initially adopted this aesthetic, then gradually evolved it to bring Duo’s look closer to the core Cisco brand. My work supported that transition through social graphics, blog imagery, and ads.
Cisco reimagined website initiative
Cisco Reimagined was a major initiative to bring cohesion to Cisco Security’s product portfolio on Cisco.com. Since many products came from acquisitions, their dashboards and visual styles varied widely. I worked with product managers to design simplified graphical interfaces and web banners that visually unified the product ecosystem for digital use across Cisco.com and social media.
Illustration & visual storytelling
From explainer graphics to editorial illustrations, I created visuals for PowerPoint decks, white papers, and blog content, always aligned with Cisco’s illustration system and color palette.
Giveaways, swag & supporting materials
Event activations often included branded giveaways like apparel, stickers, notebooks, and signage. I designed these collateral items to feel cohesive, bold, and relevant to both the campaign and the event environment.
