S3 Community of Practice

Turning complex EU policy into a living digital community

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Client: DG Regio, Unit innovation
Year: 2022-2025
Subject: Regional innovation
Duration: 36 months
Strategy
Branding
Web
Graphic design
Audiovisual production
Copywriting

The challenge

Smart Specialisation is central to EU Cohesion Policy, yet regions were navigating a fragmented ecosystem.

The challenge was not only to share information, but to create a shared space where regions, policymakers and experts could learn from each other, access reliable resources, and connect strategy with implementation in a concrete way.

Our mission

Old-Continent led the communication and dissemination of the S3 Community of Practice over a three-year period. Our mission was to design and operate a communication ecosystem that did not only explain policy, but actively supported participation, learning and reuse.

We worked at the intersection of policy, design and digital, transforming a complex initiative into a visible and engaging platform.

A strategy designed for results

From the outset, communication was approached as a long term strategy rather than a set of isolated actions. We defined a multi year communication framework that aligned website content, editorial planning, social media and newsletters, ensuring a coherent system that could be monitored and scaled.

Digital platforms with measurable reach

The S3 Community of Practice website became the central access point for the community. Over the project duration, it recorded more than 35.000 visits and 158.000 page views, reflecting sustained interest from regions, policymakers and experts across Europe.

Beyond traffic, the website supported continuous content updates, recurring users and long term access to policy resources, demonstrating its role as a durable reference platform.

A strong and consistent visual identity

We developed a distinctive visual identity for the S3 Community of Practice, designed to work across digital platforms, publications and events. This identity helped create recognition and coherence across a wide range of outputs, from policy briefs to large scale conferences.

Graphic design played a central role in making content accessible and visually consistent throughout the project.

Audiovisual storytelling

To complement written and visual content, we produced a range of audiovisual materials. Video interviews, after-event movies and short dissemination formats were used to capture key messages, showcase voices from the community and humanise policy discussions.

These formats played a key role in extending visibility and supporting ongoing engagement.

Events as moments of visibility and engagement

Flagship S3 Conferences and S3 Forums were key moments of visibility and interaction. Each event gathered between 300 and 500 participants, bringing together regions, EU institutions and experts from across Europe.

Strong visual identities, integrated communication and post-event content ensured that these moments generated visibility well beyond the physical events, extending reach through digital channels and audiovisual formats.

Sustained engagement over time

The S3 Community of Practice was not built around one-off peaks of visibility, but around continuity. Regular newsletters, social media activity and website updates supported repeated engagement and return visits.

This sustained rhythm helped establish the S3 Community of Practice as a trusted reference, rather than a temporary project platform.

Lasting value

The S3 Community of Practice was designed to last beyond the project itself. The platforms, visual identity and communication tools remain in use, forming a reusable infrastructure for future policy initiatives.

This durability is a key indicator of success. The project delivered not only short term visibility, but long lasting tools that continue to support policy implementation and learning.