What is DataCo? (And How It Works)
I led identity, UI/UX, photography, and animation for DataCo, building a data-privacy platform's brand and product system from zero - full identity, public site, member platform, and merchandise, delivered in eight weeks.
with Rob Homberger & Danny Tyrrell
ANZ retired DataCo as part of a broader cost-reduction programme. The team regrouped and relaunched in 2026 under a new name – KICO Labs.
Section 01 – The challenge
DataCo Technologies, a startup spun out of 1835i, addresses the gap between continuous data sharing and customer consent by giving individuals direct control over their data usage.
To transition from concept to launch, the company required a competitive brand, an integrated web and member platform, and high-impact investor materials. The solution enables major media organisations, publishers, and retailers - including Nine, SBS, and Southern Cross Austereo - to measure customer growth safely without exposing raw consumer data.
Section 02 – The process
Over eight weeks, we worked across the full stack: identity system, logo, UX and UI for both unauthenticated and authenticated platform states, merchandise, and video content to communicate the business idea to potential clients and investors.
Audience
Analytics managers, growth marketing directors, and enterprise sales directors inside consumer-facing businesses. Sophisticated buyers who evaluate on both capability and compliance.
Design direction
Innovation and institutional credibility in equal measure. Precise, secure, data-forward – no startup softness, no consumer-grade aesthetics.
Colour
Slate Grey anchors stability and trust. Cyber Cyan, Electric Green, and Vivid Violet signal live data, advanced technology, and growth. The tension between the two is intentional.
Typography
Inter for body – clean and data-dense. Lato for headers – sharper and directional.
Data visualisation
No pie charts. Crisp vector node graphs, clean-room diagrams, and data-flow animations. All mockups show aggregated, abstract data – never individual profiles – reinforcing the privacy-first promise visually, not just verbally.
Tone
Direct, authoritative, transparent. No fluff, no hyperbole – this audience reads vague claims as red flags.
Section 03 – Outcome & impact
DataCo launched in early 2023 with a complete brand, product, and communication system – and showed early promise. ANZ later closed the venture as part of a cost-reduction programme. The team has since regrouped and launched a new venture, KICO Labs.
DataCo was a reminder that the best design work can't outrun a business decision – but it can outlast one. The system we built informed what came next.
- 8
- Weeks delivery
- 2
- Platform states
- 3
- Early clients
- 0→1
- Brand & product
Brief to launch-ready
Public site + member platform
Nine · SBS · Southern Cross Austereo
Everything built from scratch
DataCo launched in early 2023 with a complete brand, product, and communication system built from scratch in eight weeks. The platform connected privacy-preserving data collaboration to individual consent – built for media organisations including Nine, SBS, and Southern Cross Austereo. ANZ later closed the venture as part of a cost-reduction programme. The team regrouped and relaunched under a new name, KICO Labs. The design system went with them.
Complete brand identity system
Logo, colour, type, graphic elements
Public-facing website
Unauthenticated – product + use cases + pricing
Authenticated member platform
Full product UI across two states
3:04 explainer video
Business concept made immediately visual
Early client traction
Nine, SBS, Southern Cross Austereo
Merchandise & investor materials
Brand applied across every surface
Pricing & licensing structure designed
Trial → Business → Enterprise → Enhanced
Continued product development
ANZ closed venture – cost-reduction programme
DataCo as standalone entity
Team regrouped – relaunched as KICO Labs, 2026