We were approached by the Qualia Research Institute with a straightforward brief: to design a website where people could sign open letters addressed to governments around the world, calling for access to psychedelic therapies for cluster headache patients.

As we began researching, it quickly became clear that the website needed to serve a broader purpose. Despite the torture-like suffering experienced by hundreds of thousands of people each year, cluster headaches remain widely unknown. Global funding for research is almost nonexistent, and around half of patients have contemplated suicide. Communicating the urgency of the issue with clarity and compassion became central to the project.

We collaborated closely with the lead scientist to design a website that could both inform and mobilise. Rather than adopting the conventional visual language of medical or charity websites, our aim was to create a platform capable of supporting a global movement and giving patients a sense of visibility.

Our contribution included the naming, visual identity, and web design. We also developed infographics that help visualise key studies in an accessible way, allowing the public to better understand the condition and the evidence behind psychedelic therapies.

The logo synthesises the organisation’s purpose: a potential solution (psychedelic therapies) brought to a longstanding problem (cluster headaches). The pain is represented by a red radiating circle, while the therapy is symbolised by a purple hexagon — referencing the chemical structure of tryptamine, the core scaffold of many important biological and psychoactive molecules. Purple, a colour often associated with psychedelics, reinforces this connection.

Where the two shapes meet, they create a soft halo of light, a visual metaphor for hope. This interplay between problem and solution is echoed throughout the colour palette and identity system. Our intention was to introduce a sense of optimism without detracting from the seriousness of the condition.

Working on this project has been deeply humbling. We hope the initiative brings rapid and meaningful relief to patients around the world. To support the movement, please visit clusterfree.org and sign the global and national letters.

Thank you to All in Awe for introducing us to this project and for the work they do connecting charities and non-profits with creative professionals.