Boreal Waters Community Foundation
Non Profits
What We Made
Branding Identity
UX & Website Design
Video Production
Marketing Collateral
Naming
Tags
Challenge
The Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation was looking for a name change and updated brand to better reflect the broader geographic area it has grown to serve. We partner with the organization, and after a lot of research and testing, we landed on Boreal Waters as their new name.
Concept
The name “Boreal Waters Community Foundation” evokes the rugged beauty and resilience of the northern boreal forests and waterways, symbolizing the Foundation’s expanded reach across northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin—and affirming its deep-rooted commitment to the entire region, not just Duluth and Superior.
Outcome
With the new name in place, we reimagined the brand—embracing a cleaner, more modern, and highly adaptable visual system. This refreshed identity laid the foundation for cohesive marketing materials and a user-friendly, purpose-built website, enabling the organization to share its mission with greater clarity and impact. A flexible brand system and comprehensive guidelines made implementation straightforward for the internal team, ensuring consistency across a wide range of applications. We also developed a suite of tools and templates—including brochures, newsletters, and digital assets—empowering the team to effectively highlight their work and position the Foundation as a recognized champion of regional growth and community well-being.


Branding + Identity
With the new name established, we built a brand identity system designed to reflect Boreal Waters’ sense of place, purpose, and adaptability. Drawing inspiration from the region’s boreal forests and waterways, the visual identity is clean, modern, and versatile—built to scale across everything from small digital assets to large-format print. A flexible color palette, typography suite, and graphic elements create a cohesive visual language that the organization can use across campaigns and communications. To ensure long-term success, we delivered comprehensive brand guidelines and a set of ready-to-use templates, empowering Boreal Waters’ team to maintain consistency while tailoring materials to their needs. This system not only strengthens recognition but also allows the Foundation to confidently share its story and impact throughout the region.

What they said and how they felt

What they said and how they felt

What they said and how they felt

What they said and how they felt
Brand Reveal Video
To bring the new brand to life, we produced a launch video that introduces Boreal Waters’ refreshed identity and reaffirms its commitment to strengthening the region and the people who call it home. The video weaves together striking visuals of the Northland’s forests and waterways with authentic stories from the Foundation, creating an inspiring narrative about resilience, growth, and community impact. As both a celebration of the new name and a rallying call for the future, the brand video serves as a powerful tool for sharing Boreal Waters’ mission across digital channels, events, and community outreach.
What they said and how they felt
Website
Alongside the new brand, we redesigned Boreal Waters’ website to create a more user-friendly, engaging experience for visitors. The refreshed site shines a spotlight on key areas that advance the Foundation’s mission—making it easier for donors, partners, and community members to understand the impact of their work and get involved. Behind the scenes, we built a streamlined content management system, empowering Boreal Waters’ staff to easily add new stories, events, and updates as the organization continues its important work. The result is a website that not only reflects the strength of the new brand but also helps the Foundation extend its reach and deepen its regional impact.

What they said and how they felt

What they said and how they felt

What they said and how they felt
Build Out
To ensure the new brand extended seamlessly across all touchpoints, we developed a suite of rebranded marketing materials that were both professional and engaging. From brochures and newsletters to donor communications and digital assets, each piece was designed to reflect the strength and clarity of Boreal Waters’ identity. This cohesive system not only elevated the organization’s presence but also provided powerful tools for building stronger connections with donors, partners, and community members—helping the Foundation share its story and amplify its impact across the region.

What they said and how they felt

What they said and how they felt

What they said and how they felt

What they said and how they felt

What they said and how they felt
What they said and how they felt
More of what we have made

Grand Marais Art Colony | Website

PBS North | Almanac North
