Low Carbon Devon, a project supported by the European Structural and Investment Fund, aimed to help Devon enterprises transition to a low-carbon economy. Our task was to design and develop a future-proof brand identity that aligned with the project’s goals and adhered to the mandatory requirements set by the European Union. This brand identity needed to be rolled out across multiple channels, including digital platforms and printed materials, while remaining consistent for the next few years as its rolled out.
The design process was guided by the need to balance urgency and information, as outlined in the client’s brief. Through extensive research, we determined that the design had to evoke both a sense of environmental responsibility and forward-thinking solutions. While the client initially preferred avoiding green in the palette, we trusted our design experience and took a bold step to incorporate it, recognizing its strong association with sustainability. Our approach involved collaborating closely with the University of Plymouth’s brand guidelines to ensure alignment with their ethos while delivering a design that could stand on its own.
We developed a comprehensive brand identity that included a powerful strapline and a distinct tone of voice, positioning Zero Carbon Devon as both urgent and collaborative. This was supported by a range of visual metaphors aimed at representing the project’s goal of helping local SMEs achieve net zero. The brand was applied across multiple platforms, including sustainability hubs, webinar marketing materials, social media toolkits, and animated and printed collateral. We also filmed and edited a promotional video for a fully funded internship program to further promote the project.
Low Carbon Devon was thrilled with the final brand identity, praising its bold, future-oriented design. The branding effectively communicated the project’s mission and resonated with stakeholders, resulting in high engagement across their multimedia channels. The promotional materials, particularly the internship film, were well-received and instrumental in attracting attention to the project.
