The Project
The Diversity in Leadership Institute approached me to create a cohesive visual identity for its fifth-anniversary celebration. This milestone also marked the public launch of their upcoming $10M fundraising campaign, making it essential that the brand matched the moment's significance. I was tasked with developing a unified creative direction, narrative framework, and a complete asset suite that could flex seamlessly across digital, print, and live-event environments.
The Challenge
The Diversity in Leadership Institute needed an event brand that reflected the significance of its five-year milestone and communicated its story with clarity, pride, and energy. This moment was more than a celebration; it was an opportunity to showcase the organization’s impact and reinforce the purpose that guides its work. Their existing visuals did not fully express the celebratory spirit, community-centered mission, or forward-looking vision the occasion required, and they needed a creative system that could rise to the moment with cohesion and intention.
The challenge was to design a brand that honored five years of accomplishments while inspiring supporters to see themselves in the Institute’s future. The visual system needed to carry energy across diverse touchpoints, including promotional graphics, presentation slides, social media, on-site signage, and printed collateral. Every asset had to work together to tell a consistent story, no matter where the audience encountered it. This required a foundation that balanced celebration with professionalism and maintained continuity across both digital and physical environments.
Along with being visually strong, the brand had to be functional and intuitive for internal teams to implement. Flexibility and clarity were key, especially with tight timelines and multiple contributors. Ensuring the creative direction felt elevated, accessible, and adaptable was essential in shaping an event experience worthy of the Institute’s legacy. The result needed to honor their history, deepen engagement, and build lasting momentum for the organization’s next phase of growth and leadership.
The Outcome
The final creative system delivered a cohesive, elevated, and emotionally resonant brand experience for the Diversity in Leadership Institute’s 5th Anniversary Celebration. Built around the theme Our Journey. Our Impact. Our Future., the identity provided a strong narrative arc that connected the organization’s past, present, and future vision.
The visual system — from color palette and typography to imagery and graphic elements — established a vibrant, recognizable foundation across every channel. Branded assets amplified digital promotion, shaped the physical event environment, and supported on-stage storytelling, allowing the Institute to clearly share its mission and long-term vision with attendees.
The celebration raised nearly $100,000 and significantly expanded brand awareness, reinforcing the Institute’s credibility and impact. The result was an experience that deepened supporter connection, elevated the event’s atmosphere, and equipped the team with a flexible brand toolkit they can continue to use as they move into their next chapter.
Tools: Canva • Photoshop • ChatGPT
