The Gate of Dharma Buddhist College case
Institutional Branding, Student Recruitment, Communication, and Unified Online Presence
This was a project close to our hearts — about people, growth, and building understanding.
The Gate of Dharma Buddhist College (TKBF) was founded in 1991 as the higher education institution of The Gate of Dharma Buddhist Church, with the mission of making the rich and diverse teachings of Buddhist traditions accessible to Hungarian students at an academic level.
The College’s mission is to create an open and flexible intellectual community where meditation practice, religion, and scientific inquiry can coexist in dialogue. Students study the history, teachings, and practices of different Buddhist schools, while also exploring other religions and European philosophical traditions.
TKBF typically has around 300 students enrolled at any given time and has awarded over 800 degrees. Its library holds more than 21,000 volumes — many of them unavailable elsewhere — and the institution also runs its own publishing activity to expand the Hungarian Buddhist literature.
Around the College, a wider institutional ecosystem has evolved: The Gate of Dharma Buddhist Church (TKBE), the Special Library, and Buddha FM Radio.
Buddha FM’s mission is to create a radio that presents the Buddha’s teachings from many perspectives, adhering to the principle of “right speech” from the Noble Eightfold Path — avoiding false or slanderous speech — and broadcasting programs that promote wisdom and peace.
Challenges and Objectives
Brand and Communication. Each institution — the College, the Church, the Library, and Buddha FM — had its own website and visual identity. While they shared values, their visual language, tone of voice, and content structure were inconsistent.
Visibility To broaden awareness of the College’s mission and academic offerings, its online presence needed strengthening.
Social Media Strategy. TKBF operated multiple separate Facebook pages; a unified content and social media strategy was essential to ensure coherent messaging.
Goals.
Unified Branding. Build a clean, timeless, and consistent online identity rooted in the existing brand but avoiding ostentation.
Consistent Web Experience. Introduce a unified UX/UI concept for the College, the Church, the Library, and Buddha FM, taking into account accessibility, mobile use, and diverse audience needs.
Social Media and Facebook Communication. Create a coherent content strategy and editorial calendar supporting visibility, student recruitment, and community building.
Student Recruitment. Develop a campaign methodology and landing pages to support enrollment.
Strategy and Implementation
1. Research and Analysis
We began by mapping the institutions’ missions, visions, and current communications while seeking to deeply understand their audiences.
2. Branding and Communication Concept
Brand Foundations. The new online visual identity drew inspiration from the College’s core values — openness, intellectual flexibility, and the dialogue between science and religion.
Messaging and Value Proposition. The communication highlighted that TKBF offers more than religious education: it fosters personal development, academic study, and community building.
3. Unified Websites – UX/UI and Development
Shared Design System. We created a unified design framework defining interface components such as navigation bars, footers, buttons, icons, typography, and color palettes. Accessibility tools (font size adjustment, contrast modes) were integrated into all websites.
Together with TKBF teams, we restructured content. The College’s site features well-organized sections on admissions, programs, student life, and research.
The Church’s site focuses on teachings, events, and community initiatives.
The Library’s site highlights its catalog, services, and digital resources.
Buddha FM presents programs, podcasts, and blog content.
All sites were interconnected, allowing seamless navigation across the ecosystem.
Responsive Development. The websites were optimized for mobile, ensuring fast load times and intuitive navigation. Special care was taken to make admissions and events information easily accessible.
4. Social Media Strategy and Facebook Communication
Content Calendar. We created an annual content plan and editorial rhythm that reflected TKBF’s values — authenticity, openness, and community.
Facebook Campaigns. Enrollment campaigns emphasized the College’s vision as an “open and flexible intellectual community” and showcased the diversity of its academic programs.
Summary
The Gate of Dharma Buddhist College and its associated institutions underwent a comprehensive brand and digital transformation. Throughout the process, we gained deep insight into the spiritual goals of Buddhist education, as well as the needs of teachers, students, and Buddha FM’s ethical communication principles.
Using this understanding, we built a unified, open, and authentic brand that strengthened visibility and community presence not only for the College but also for the Church, the Library, and the Radio.
The new websites, social media strategy, and cohesive brand identity helped The Gate of Dharma Buddhist College truly open its gates to all who seek Buddhist wisdom and scientific knowledge alike.
