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International Energy Agency International Energy Agency

International Energy Agency

Since 2019

From oil security to shaping global clean energy transitions

Founded in 1974 in the wake of the global oil crisis, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has evolved into an authority on energy policy and analysis.

As climate change and clean energy needs took center stage, the IEA sought to expand its influence beyond traditional stakeholders and better serve a global audience. Partnering with AREA 17, the IEA embarked on an organization-wide digital transformation to modernize its brand and make its insights more accessible, realizing its mission of clean energy leadership.

Becoming the organization setting the global energy agenda

Long recognized as an authority in oil security, the IEA sought to reposition itself as a proactive leader in clean energy transitions as conversations around climate change intensified. To this end, we crafted a bold new identity that embodies the agency's mission: "Shaping a secure and sustainable energy future for all."

This new identity shifts the perception of the IEA from a neutral data provider to a highly visible and influential force in the climate discussion. Beyond periodic reports, the organization now delivers timely and actionable insights to policymakers around the world, supporting entire countries and industries in transitioning towards more sustainable energy choices.

“The brand value that we have created has allowed us to be immediately recognized and credible with our stated ambition.”

Jad Mouawad
Head of Communications and Digital, International Energy Agency

Building a digital-first platform to accelerate real-time energy insights

With the climate crisis demanding faster action, the IEA recognized the need to complement its traditional, long-form reports with more flexible content types that served the needs of a broader audience. 

Leveraging our Twill CMS and integrating IEA data APIs, we built a dynamic publishing environment where the agency's editors can curate real-time statistics and embed them in modular articles, commentaries, and dashboards. These tools give publishing teams more flexibility to package content in engaging, actionable formats, meeting the demand for focused summaries of the latest data and analysis. Editorial hubs and interactive features make insights more accessible, transforming the IEA website into a lively knowledge-sharing platform.

“Any IEA team can now publish their analysis directly on the platform, eliminating bottlenecks and enabling faster, more agile responses to a rapidly changing world.”

Thomas Squire
Design Director

  • +366%

    increase in annual visitors from 2016 to 2022

Building a best-in-class, self-serve system for data and product access

As demand for up-to-date, globally representative energy data grew, the IEA recognized a need for a more streamlined way for users to explore, license, and access its insights.

Previously, purchasing IEA data involved multiple platforms that created a high-touch experience for users and management challenges for sales teams. 

We consolidated these processes into a self-serve platform on IEA’s core website, where users can now explore and purchase data sets with ease through simplified checkout and custom licensing options. With routine tasks automated, IEA teams can focus on strategic growth, while the new product management interface offers clients greater control over their data needs.

“The new pricing model empowers users to build custom licenses that match their unique requirements, while meeting IEA’s internal revenue goals — a structure that enables broader, more flexible data access.”

Luis Lavena
Group Engineering Director

Expanding reach beyond energy experts to the general public

In 2023, the IEA extended its reach to connect with the global public’s interest in clean energy. Recognizing that clarity drives engagement, we worked with the agency to embed interactive features into its website that invite exploration and spark understanding.

This includes question-based features that engage users directly, as well as Spotlights — visual, SEO-friendly content designed to transform complex topics into short, ‘snackable’ insights. These features make the IEA’s data more compelling and actionable, serving as entry points to understanding the role of clean energy in a sustainable future while supporting the agency's vision for a more informed, energy-conscious world.

“AREA 17 continues to improve our design, user experience, and performance, helping to substantially grow traffic and engagement. They work collaboratively to develop creative solutions to support our mission.”

Curtis Brainard
Digital Communications Manager, International Energy Agency

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Brand
Brand strategy
Brand toolkits and rollout
Business and brand insights
Visual and verbal identity
Experience
Concepting and prototyping
Design systems
Experience design
Experience vision and strategy
Prioritization and roadmapping
Research and analysis
Technology
Analytics and optimization
Custom application development
Custom interface development
Technology strategy and architecture

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