Challenge – creating a more engaging identity and digital presence
Step Up MCR, a charity that focuses on helping local organisations grow by providing them with funding, support and advice, approached us to create a new brand identity to better reflect their ethos and mission.
Since launching in 2019, Step Up MCR has evolved to support over 50 resident-led projects, and has given back over £500,000 to local communities. As the charity has grown so has the need for a clearer, more engaging identity and digital presence.
The objective of Step Up MCR’s brand refresh was to position them as a leading charity in Greater Manchester. We set out to translate their caring and vibrant ethos into a compelling online presence to enable them to better connect with supporters and foster connections with potential funders.
Our approach: Shaping Step Up MCR’s new brand identity through their caring ethos
We began the project by crafting a detailed brief featuring Step Up MCR’s vision. The key deliverables included a complete redesign of Step Up MCR’s brand identity, including a new logo, font pairings, colour palette and graphic elements. The project also incorporated a new website and newsletter design, as well as email signature and social media templates.
Forming the new brand identity
We developed a brand book that featured options for the new branding elements, taking inspiration from Step Up MCR’s current branding but modernising it by introducing new colours and typeface. The refreshed brand communicates Step Up MCR’s vision and signifies the hope and energy that the organisation champions alongside subtle nods to their home of Manchester. Take a look at some pages from the brand book below.
Producing the structure of the new website
On completion of the brand identity, we turned to crafting the new website structure and establishing which pages from the current site would remain, be merged or removed completely. Accessibility was central to drawing the sitemap and we ensured the site would be intuitive and user-friendly for all visitors. The final structure provided us with a foundation for the layout and user-experience of Step Up MCR’s new website.
Building the website
We began the website build by creating plans for each page, laying out where text and images would go. The flat layouts were visualised, to ensure they adhered to the new brand identity, and then realised into a fully functioning site in WordPress. Throughout the design process we gathered regular feedback from Step Up MCR allowing for any changes to the design and functionality of the site.
Impact: A unified brand identity with a purpose-driven website
We have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the Step Up MCR team who are delighted with their revised branding and online presence and confident the professional, yet fun design effectively communicates their values to their community.
Strong communication throughout the project enabled us to collaborate closely with Step Up MCR and gain a deep insight and understanding of the local projects that are at the heart of the organisation. This insight formed a design strategy that keeps those community projects front and centre.
We’re proud to have delivered a cohesive brand and digital experience that not only represents Step Up MCR but also supports their continued growth and ability to reach those who need their services most. Take a look at Step Up MCR’s new website here.
Interested in a new brand image or website to help take your organisation to the next level? Please reach out to us.
