Redefining a digital engagement for the leader in global ocean exploration

Background

OceanX operates at the intersection of ocean exploration, scientific research, and media production. It was established by Ray Dalio of Bridgewater Associates and his son, Mark Dalio, as part of Dalio Philanthropies' commitment to advancing knowledge and public understanding of the ocean.

OceanX fields the OceanXplorer, a highly advanced ocean research vessel. This ship functions as a comprehensive science and media platform, equipped with submersibles capable of descending to 1,000 meters, a fleet of deepwater remotely operated vehicles reaching 6,000 meters, advanced onboard laboratories for genetic sequencing and acoustic mapping, and a fully integrated media production suite.

The OceanXplorer has supported significant missions, including collaborations with National Geographic and James Cameron for the "OceanXplorers" miniseries, contributing to the discovery of previously unexplored areas, new deep-sea ecosystems, and the documentation of marine life. Beyond its expeditions, OceanX is dedicated to fostering ocean literacy and inspiring new generations of marine advocates.

Challenge

OceanX recognized that its existing digital presence, while functional, no longer fully embodied the scale, innovation, and impact of its global initiatives. The website required a comprehensive overhaul—a robust, dynamic platform capable of showcasing their groundbreaking expeditions, scientific discoveries, and educational outreach with the same immersive quality as their real-world operations.

L+R's challenge was to imagine this digital platform from the ground up, seamlessly integrating every aspect of OceanX's global mission for its diverse and varying audiences. This undertaking demanded not only technical precision but also careful consideration for the needs of their internal team of stakeholders and the ultimate ease of maintaining the site long-term.

Approach

Our collaboration with OceanX blended critical analysis with an aesthetic pursuit of beautiful and harmonious solutions. Our process involved design research methods and stakeholder alignment to deeply understand OceanX's core ethos, diverse offerings, and varying customer segments.

This informed the front-end experience design, coupled with a robust backend development tech stack, all while strategically integrating their beautiful imagery to create a visually compelling and highly functional digital presence. This structured yet adaptable approach, executed with open communication, ensured a successful outcome.

Solution

The project delivered a newly designed and developed OceanX.org website, a comprehensive digital platform supporting the organization's work across its multiple verticals. This involved creating a clear content strategy and outline and engineering a robust design system with high-fidelity prototypes for all page groups, ensuring a consistent and navigable experience for varying audiences.

The Dato CMS integration empowers OceanX's internal team with streamlined content management and supports long-term site maintainability. All pages, built and tested, reflect approved designs and ensure cross-browser compatibility and mobile responsiveness, providing an online presence that reflects OceanX's global operations and supports engagement.

Impact

The new website was strategically unveiled in June 2025, during the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) with significant visibility among global leaders and media. The project was delivered on time and within budget, demonstrating efficient execution. The launch resulted in positive reception and confirmed strong stakeholder buy-in, reflecting effective collaboration. The site's enhanced user experience and engagement were evident, reinforcing OceanX's position as a leader in ocean exploration and conservation.

The collaborative initiative of OceanX.org provides a robust digital foundation for OceanX's ongoing mission and future endeavors.