Special events are brand ambassadors for your nonprofit. Think of it as Christmas Eve or Easter service for a local church—an event that draws in lapsed or new audiences. It is a beacon that attracts those who identify with your values and mission in a fun, interactive format. 

Too long a name, too much jargon, too generic, or outdated logos. These are some of the common issues I see when evaluating nonprofit brands. It’s a tall order—settling on a name that is easy to say and remember, paired with a logo that communicates what you do for your community. There are many ways it can go wrong—but it’s not impossible OR unfixable.

My business has truly grown in my third year. I have made so many great connections with new clients and collaborators. When I partner with my clients to illuminate their core mission, it resonates with their ideal audience, forging a powerful connection. This connection often evolves into a community of loyal supporters, passionately aligned with your mission. Visuals play a pivotal role in this strategy—they elevate your message, making it more captivating and unforgettable. Using design to visualize their values, I’ve helped my clients increase their impact within our community.

So, you have decided now is the time to brand your nonprofit. Your Board is in agreement, you have the budget allocated, and have included a timeline in your most recent Strategic Plan. Your next step is hiring a brand strategist and designer to start the process. How will you choose, and where will you find them? Follow my process for finding, evaluating, interviewing, and hiring a brand designer.

My second year has been truly exhilarating! When I work with my nonprofit clients to illuminate their core beliefs and purpose, it resonates with their ideal audience, creating a powerful connection. When people can see that you genuinely stand for something and understand how they can contribute to that cause, it fosters a deep and meaningful relationship. This connection often leads to the development of loyal supporters who are passionate about your mission. Visuals can be a crucial part of this communication strategy. They have the power to enhance your message, making it more engaging and memorable. Using design to visualize their values, I have helped clients achieve the results they have been looking for:

How does one go about designing for Ballet performances that haven’t been choreographed yet? Here I describe my design and branding process step-by-step for Nashville Ballet’s 2023-24 Season and performances.

One of your first steps as a new nonprofit or business is to build brand awareness, which may or may not include a logo. You might ask why a brand designer would tell you this—but I strongly believe you need to get to know your target audience and organization for the branding process to be effective. In fact, I started my own business without a “logo” and did not rebrand till several years down the road. A logo is the pinnacle of your branding, the shining star at the top of a pyramid that represents, at a glance, all that your brand stands for. In this step-by-step tutorial, I will cover nine ways you can build a strong foundation—the bottom of your pyramid—by using consistency to establish brand recognition.

Great brands have solid foundations made of consistent client experiences, clear communication, and striking visuals. Your brand is how you are perceived by your audience. Your branding communicates your brand values. Your identity visually connects your brand values to the emotions you want to project to your ideal audience. Your brand, your branding, and your identity work together to form an experience that your client can feel, hear, and see.

I am so happy I decided to buckle down and rebrand myself during 2021! Luminea Creative and all it stands for fits me so much better than the general catch-all design work I was doing previously. Partnering with nonprofits and mission-forward companies allows me to utilize my design skills to make the world a better place. When the visuals help amplify a concise message, I can see how impactful good design can be on the bottom line. In order to be as impactful as possible, I’ve expanded my service offerings for a larger range of budgets.

Nonprofits often delay investing in their message and image because they feel like their mission’s needs are more important. Rebranding can feel like a daunting and expensive undertaking, but it doesn’t have to be. By approaching the process in a slow and methodical way, nonprofits can spread out the cost of a rebrand and establish a deeper connection with their audience.