Enterprise Rebrand
Country Base: Canada
Industry/Sector/Keywords: Educational Institutions and Libraries, University, Academic Institutions, Academia, Learning, Brand Positioning, Brand Revitalization, Brand Strategy, Sports, Teams, Apparel
Before: Before and After Images in Slide Show, Summary, Credits
Summary
Industry Setting

Simon Fraser University (SFU) is one of the largest universities in British Columbia, it is ranked in the top 1% worldwide for delivering academic and research excellence. Teaching 30,000 students across 3 campuses in subject areas ranging from science, arts, business, education, and everything in between.

Challenge

SFU had identified that they needed to refresh and differentiate their brand within the post-secondary category. It was felt that the SFU community had a strong sense of who they were but that they needed to better visually express their brand to the world. The university had managed its brand using a decentralized approach which led to a lack of cohesion and poor visual consistency.

Strategy

Driving the visual rebrand was a refined brand positioning based on the idea of ‘Outside Thinking’ and a new tagline ‘Canada’s Engaged University’, which brought to life SFU’s characteristics of being unconventional, fearless, compassionate and ready.

Working with an existing logo, we developed a visual identity that brought to life what makes SFU unique, and set out to clearly differentiate them from the competition.
– A simplified color palette of red, black and white was created to increase brand recall.
– Bold, hard-hitting typography feels unconventional and ready.
– Black and white journalist style photography embodies the ‘real learning’ model, feels ‘news worthy’ and ‘current’.
– Evocative copywriting engages with thought-provoking statements.
– A new brand architecture ensures brand equity and visual cohesion across the institution.

Result

The brand rollout for SFU is ongoing, however the internal response has been extremely positive. The effectiveness of the work has been proven by the number of units and divisions across the university that have requested that their sub-brand be updated in-line with the new overall institutional brand. These have included high profile and visible university groups such as Athletics & Recreation, Spirit Shop & Bookstore, Public Square (community engagement initiative) and the Charles Chang Innovation Centre.

Credits

Client: SFU – www.sfu.ca

Executive Director, Communications & Marketing: Kristin Linklater
Senior Director, Marketing & Brand Management: Adriana Linoh
Director, Marketing and Brand Management: Marcel Da Silva
Project Director, Brand Expression: Ailsa Brown
Senior Director University Communications: Denise Leech
Senior Director, Student Success & Strategic Support: Leanne Dalton
Director, Marketing & Communications, Beedie School of Business: Tracy Macrae
Director, Marketing and Communications, Continuing Studies: Rachel Bennett

Brand Strategists/Designers: Twice – www.twicebrand.com

VP Brand Strategy, Strategy Lead: Rob Newell
Creative Director, Creative Lead: James Bateman
Account Director, Client Account Lead: Katrina Trinidad
Account Director, Client Account Lead: Fiona McFaul
Project Manager, Project Management: Alyssa Rodrigues
Designer, Creative Design: Jesse Ellingson
Production Artist, Studio Designer: Laurel Miller
Production Artist, studio designer: Tina Palmer