We recently had the honor and privilege of partnering with Team RWB (Team Red, White, & Blue) to develop their brand from the ground up. It has been a thrilling process to see this amazing organization grow to become nationally-recognized. Last week, they were featured on a Today Show segment, which you can watch below:

About Team RWB

Team RWB firmly believes that It’s Our Turn to give back to the veterans that have served to protect the freedoms we enjoy. Team RWB is an organization founded by committed veterans who are dedicated to support and enrich the lives of wounded veterans and their families. They do this by partnering with athletes to raise money and volunteers who develop long-lasting relationships with wounded veterans, helping them reintegrate into civilian society. According to Team RWB, “We do not view success in terms of dollars raised, but by relationships maintained.”

To find out exactly what this amazing, multi-faceted organization does, check out their What We Do page.

Here are just some of the parts and pieces to the Team RWB brand:
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A few months ago, one of our development partners, Floodlight Design, came to us for an update to their identity. The business had grown exponentially since the formation of the original identity and it deserved an update to reflect that. It was an incredible opportunity for us to really push the aesthetic and strategic boundaries of the brand. Read the rest of the entry >

The word unique is thrown around a lot. This said, in our often cookie-cutter culture it’s rarely used in the true sense. Lucky for us, we were recently given the opportunity to work with a company that encourages its customers to embrace what they love and make something completely unique.

LexiWynn owners Seth and Alexa Holzwarth came to us in 2010 as a small start-up with a single goal – build their brand to allow them to be a stronger competitor in the custom purse design market. The pair had been making one-of-a-kind handbags for their friends since 2006. They eventually began throwing parties where guests could come and pick materials to design their own bags. From the uber-trendy to more classic, the outcome of the process is always unique. In fact, LexiWynn stands by their promise that once a bag is made, no one else can choose the same materials in the same application, ensuring that every bag is completely exclusive to its owner.

As designers, we love it when people are given the opportunity to grow their passion for design, whether it is with images, typography, or in this case, fabric. Because of this, we were so excited to work with LexiWynn. We wanted to help them as they worked to promote a sense of imagination, creativity, and sophistication.

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As designers (and aware humans in general – I’m not leaving any of you out), we understand and appreciate companies than create and expand upon their own brand. It’s an essential piece of a successful business. People have to recognize and relate to the brand if a company is to survive in this ‘cut-throat’ world of advertising/marketing/branding/capitalism. Rarer, however, is the occasion when an individual person comes around whose personality is so strong and distinct that he/she becomes a brand himself/herself.

Athletes most commonly fall into this category. Stars like Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, and Peyton Manning have all created brand-like awareness for themselves outside of the sport they play in. Whether it be a line of shoes or an appearance on Saturday Night Live, these individuals understand the importance of their exposure beyond sports (especially considering that a lot of pro careers only last around 10-15 years).

Mike Rowe has proven that this ‘branding’ is even possible for those not in professional sports. Widely recognized for his I’ll-do-any-job-once mentality on Discovery Channel’s Dirty Jobs, Rowe’s likeness (or voice) can be found anywhere from Ford Commercials to Shark Week.

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Many think that working with non-profits on their design and marketing initiatives turns out to be unprofitable because of smaller budgets, tighter deadlines, and stricter rules. On the flip side, designers & marketers are always looking for the next opportunity to be creative and really challenge themselves with new thinking for clients and their brands. Now put these two together for a surprising result: oftentimes non-profits are the types of clients that are open to challenge and innovation, allowing you to take their brands to the next level all while doing some good for the community.

As a designer, you can stay sober by finding a non-profit to work with on a regular basis. Whether it is a paid gig, a reduced rate or simply donating your time and skill, you will learn, grow and be challenged along the way. You might just discover that your new client is far more appreciative of your work and can easily see a strong return on your creative investment.

As a business, volunteering creates a great story to share with clients both current and future. Sharing your passion for a non-profit client whether it is the local dog shelter or a big national organization creates a conversation. At the same time you might just find it easier to connect with new clients who share the same passion or interest in what you’re doing. Not to mention the connections that will come through working with the non-profit and meeting other donors.

Finding a non-profit will help strike a balance with the other clients that may be restricting your creativity or out-of-the-box thinking. Choose a non-profit you are passionate about today and offer them your creative services.

A little design can go a long way, and you might find that it will be the most rewarding work in your portfolio!