Ocean Allies is an Innovation Ecosystem (IE) project, funded for 7 months in part by Canada’s Ocean Supercluster with support from many partners. The goal of the project is to reduce the barriers to entry into the ocean innovation ecosystem and foster a more inclusive and equitable space in the ocean industry.
Branding and Graphic Identity, Communications, Website Design, Social Media and Marketing
Client Canada's Ocean Supercluster
Client Canada's Ocean Supercluster
2020 - 2021
The logo came together based on two overarching themes. Diversity and inclusion and the ocean sector. The client wanted to incorporate a rainbow into the logo to represent more than just one type of inclusiveness and an element of the ocean to represent the ocean sector. Incorporating these two elements in the logo shows that diversity and the ocean sector go hand in hand to make innovation successful.
Brand Strategy
I developed a brand identity system that would put forward their unique characteristics in the ocean industry. This project stemmed from a lively discussion at an Ocean Allies Forum in May 2020. We brought together diverse partners and dedicated allies in the ocean sector to get feedback on the best approaches to increasing diversity and inclusion (D&I) in the ocean economy, and where gaps could be identified in the current D&I efforts of the community. Diversity and inclusion should not be a “one-off initiative.” It requires principled action and investment in employee training. It brings together partners from across the Atlantic provinces and members of diverse sectors (academia, industry, and private sector), Ocean Allies is a concerted effort to reduce the barriers to entry into the ocean innovation ecosystem and foster a more inclusive and equitable space in the ocean industry.
Ocean Allies identified their three brand characteristics as exciting, inclusive, innovative. Ocean Allies is inclusive but innovative; exciting but professional.
Ocean Allies identified their three brand characteristics as exciting, inclusive, innovative. Ocean Allies is inclusive but innovative; exciting but professional.
Ocean Allies brand typography pairs Stolzl with Roboto.
Stolzl Display is angular movements turned into type, the Bauhaus ideal turned into letters.
Stolzl Display is angular movements turned into type, the Bauhaus ideal turned into letters.
It reflects the structure the ocean sector provides and Roboto is modern, yet approachable and emotional.
Visual Identity
The visual language helps establish a holistic brand that feels trustworthy, inviting, and progressive. Ocean Allies brand is led by illustrations that help communicate the brand's voice and its complex ideas. They also add charm and liveliness to the brand.
Brand Support
After the identity is finalized and a new website is underway, there are dozens of other assets to be created: presentation templates, social media banners, post templates, project reports, etc. Through the brand support service, we helped develop these quickly and efficiently
Web-design We utilized icons and illustrations to carry the brand through the website experience. We made sure that the ocean allies website is malleable for changes so we developed it using Wordpress and Elementor.
After the identity is finalized and a new website is underway, there are dozens of other assets to be created: presentation templates, social media banners, post templates, project reports, etc. Through the brand support service, we helped develop these quickly and efficiently.