Skagit Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services (SDVSAS) is (unfortunately) an important service agency for our community. We have a commitment to serve selected non-profits with pro bono services. SDVSAS is our most recent partner, helping them with a greater visual awareness.

We began our work with SDVSAS with three in-depth discovery meetings, two with their board and one with their staff. We then evaluated all of the gathered information and developed concepts. A presentation was then made of a solution that best represents the clients served by this important organization.

To demonstrate to the client how we came to the identity solution, we created a flash animation, see it here. We also created multiple variations of the identity to help the organization target specific groups/events. We are currently developing the business papers package.

Most recently we designed posters for Domestic Violence Awareness month. See the posters in this post, and for a larger version, click on the image. To support awareness of domestic violence, SDVSAS sells purple bulbs to light throughout the month.

If you are so inclined to help the organization either financially or in-kind, visit their site. Your help will go a long way!

About Purple Light Nights

Purple Light Nights was formed in 2004 by the Covington Domestic Violence Task Force. Now a 501(c)(3) organization, Purple Light Nights can be found in 23 states, 3 Canadian provinces and Guam. Visit their website for more information.

Last year, BrandQuery worked with Skagit Valley Hospital and Skagit Valley Medical Center to rename and re–brand the center to Skagit Regional Clinics. Late in the year we were asked to develop one of the first pieces of collateral for Skagit Regional Clinics. The challenge was to create a piece that is recognizable in its relationship to Skagit Valley Hospital, but speaks to the new identity of Skagit Regional Clinics.

The result is a tri-fold brochure with a general overview of the Dermatology Department and a pocket for cards highlighting specialized services.

Print collateral like brochures continue to be strong marketing tools, particularly when combined with elements of an overall campaign. A strong message distributed across a variety of mediums in a cohesive manner will generate positive results for your organization.

Give us a call if you′re looking to bring a product or service to life.

Five Tips for Creating a Good Brochure

1. Entice with the cover.
2. Include a call to action.
3. Be concise in your content.
4. Use strong, appealing imagery.
5. Most importantly, don’t forget the who, what, where, when and why.

The City of Anacortes determined mid-year 2010 to develop a city-wide wayfinding program. BrandQuery worked with City Planner Ryan Larsen to create a plan and design the wayfinding signs.

Our process began with facilitating a number of stakeholder focus group meetings. This included Anacortes business owners, service club members, the Mayor, and City staff. The participants helped us to establish both what was important for this wayfinding program and who the wayfinding is intended to help.

We then took the “discovered information,” organized it and placed the wayfinding destinations by location on a new map developed in-house. This pinpointed the important locations around the City and ultimately acted as a point of placement guide for the wayfinding signs themselves.

We visually surveyed the City multiple times. As Commercial Avenue is the major thoroughfare for Anacortes, locating the majority of the wayfinding on it made the most sense. More importantly, we looked at Commercial Avenue from a visual perspective to determine how the signs would be located. The amount of existing poles and signs up and down the avenue guided our decision to utilize existing City street standards (light poles) for sign attachment. This also reduces the cost of implementation.

With a clear direction for implementation, we set about designing the wayfinding program, creating three solutions for presentation. Alterations were made and the signs you see here are the ones selected (the first displayed “Anacortes” sign is our preferred).

Wayfinding Sign Dimensions:
• Point of Interest Signs: 10.0″ in Diameter
• Directional Sign Panel: 4′-6″ x 8.0″
• Anacortes Entry Way Sign: 25.0′ x 6.0′

BrandQuery recently completed another city-wide wayfinding project for the City of Burlington which is gradually being implemented.

Our work in wayfinding also includes campus signage and internal building wayfinding for the new Campus Center at Bellingham Technical College (BTC) currently under construction. The building was designed by HKP Architects. Previously we designed new building identification signage for four campus buildings also at BTC.

BrandQuery has created signage, both electrical and non for a variety of clients. If you have a building or space that needs identifying or directioning, call BrandQuery!

BrandQuery recently produced two television commercials based on an integrated advertising campaign (print and online) we created for Skagit State Bank. The first 30-second spot was shot on Mt. Erie in Anacortes, the second from Rosario Beach and Deception Pass (near Anacortes).

Working with Hand Crank Films, filming under our direction, we were able to shoot both spots in one day. The weather provided us two distinctive, and I might say “very Northwest,” kind of moods. Following the shoot, we worked with Hand Crank on editing, the final scripts and voice overs.

We also brought photographer Matt Brown along to capture stills from the shoot:

Setting Up The Dolly (Kayak):

Shot From Above (Hike):

With the completion of both commercials, the corresponding print and online ads were updated to include still photos from the shoot and revised ad copy for greater continuity in the overall campaign.

Skagit State Bank was thrilled with the final commercials, now in rotation on Comcast cable stations throughout Northwest Washington.

Skagit State Bank Television Commercial #1: Father & Son Hike

Skagit State Bank Television Commercial #2: Kayaks