our work
We join forces with inspired higher ed, school and nonprofit leaders to build purpose-driven brands.
Branding & Rebranding | Admission Recruitment Campaigns | Comprehensive Campaigns
Messaging | Website Design & Development | Publication Design & Consulting | Integrated Marketing Campaigns
Video & Motion Graphics | Marketing & Communications Strategy | Event Design
The Campaign for Gettysburg College
discovery | campaign logo design | campaign identity system | case statement design
When Mackey Strategies brought us on to design campaign branding for Gettysburg, the College had just launched an institution-wide brand refresh. That meant they needed a campaign identity that would complement rather than compete with their institutional one.
According to plan, the branding for “We, Here, Now: The Campaign for Gettysburg College” builds on the College’s brand and elevates it. The name is gracefully set in a typeface that is adjacent to one of Gettysburg’s brand fonts, but special. Three diamonds emphasize the three-word name and allude to the past, present, and future of the College, as well as its storied history, which spans three centuries. The logo creates meaning. A pattern custom-made from the diamond shape and an oval inspired by the official Gettysburg “G” adds a touch of elegance suitable for celebratory occasions.
In terms of campaign design, E&A has equipped Gettysburg’s in-house team with a brand toolkit that will meet the many moments of this historic effort. We can’t wait to update this case study with news of its inevitable success.
Photo credit: Gettysburg College
The Campaign for Wittenberg University
qualitative research | working case for support | campaign naming | logo design and visual identity system | video script | case statement | capital campaign microsite
In June 2023, Wittenberg University officially closed the books on its first major fundraising campaign in two decades having raised $113M — $13M over its ambitious $100M goal. E&A Collaborative’s work with President Michael Frandsen and the Office of Advancement & Alumni Engagement started during the quiet phase and wrapped with the launch of Having Light. Our comprehensive campaign creative won multiple awards, and, most importantly, it resonated with key constituencies, elevated the institutional brand, and helped move 10,400 donor households to participate in this remarkable effort.
“Without the structural foundation that E&A built for our Having Light campaign, we never would have gotten where we did. Through interviews, an alumni survey, campaign committee feedback, and the whole process of drafting and revising the case, E&A’s process got us to the right priorities — priorities that fit with who our alumni are. E&A value the end product, and they truly care. They invested in the project and our people, and that’s a huge part of the success that we had. E&A was not just a firm; it felt like an extension of the team. And it shows. We did it!”
People are the first pillar of the Campaign for Wittenberg, so alumni stories make the case. Given the social distancing constraints of COVID-19, E&A hired illustrator Rebecca Clarke to work from existing headshots and selfies, rather than send a photographer to take portraits in person. Five spreads at the back detail fundraising priorities, some of which are punched up by graphic visualizations of findings from an alumni survey created by E&A and fielded by Witt’s alumni relations team for this creative purpose.
Made for the broadest audience, this online case-making and fundraising tool was designed and written by E&A and custom-built on WordPress by DesignTLC with unique templates for each page and plenty of calls to action to get involved and give.
E&A and Witt’s alumni engagement staff worked with more than 40 alumni to develop first-person accounts of the Wittenberg experience. These stories make the case for Witt to donors and admission audiences alike. Rolled out one at a time on social media during the quiet phase, #wittstories appeared together on the campaign microsite at launch, where the entire collection balances descriptions of campaign priorities with alumni’s authentic accounts of why Wittenberg means so much to them.
KYle’s story
"First semester freshman year I took an education class with Dr. Yontz. We looked at school systems in places like where I came from in Indiana — very urban, very rough schooling. Our final project was to figure out how we would make it better. Getting to say, ‘Okay, this is how I would change the system,’ ignited something in me. Now I’m the third grade teacher whose class is on top of our chairs acting like pilots, doing multiplication chants. I want to be the principal in the lobby greeting my students every single morning. Wittenberg found the motivation in me. To this day, my ultimate goal is to open my own school."
—Kyle Powers '17 has been a teacher since graduating from Wittenberg, first in Ohio and now in Chattanooga, TN. He majored in early childhood education, joined a fraternity, and was elected Homecoming King — all to his surprise. #wittstories #whywitt
The university anthem video sets the tone for the campaign, reveals the name, and makes an emotional connection to an audience of Wittenberg University alumni and friends.
Concept and script by E&A Collaborative. Video production by Laux Creative.
Middlebury Logo & Identity System
logo | visual identity system | video scripts
Having grown to encompass far more than a signature New England liberal arts college, in 2015, Middlebury hired Neustadt Creative Marketing (NCM) to plan out a new brand architecture and create a new visual identity system. NCM designed research and devised a brand strategy and brand architecture. Allison Le, now co-founder of E&A Collaborative, art directed the new shields for Middlebury and the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey and designed the institution-wide logo system. Post-launch, Allison followed up with an exacting identity manual to ensure consistent application of the new logo, lock-ups, and colors across the institution.
Leadership in communications at Middlebury College shepherded the new designs through a multitude of community conversations and collated a variety of feedback. In preparation for launch, Edit Barry scripted videos and created the information architecture for two brand identity microsites introducing the new Middlebury identity to the public.
Video production, motion graphics, and animations by 2one5 Productions; shown with permission from Middlebury College
Blake School
brand strategy | logo | integrated print/web admission design & copywriting
Blake identity before and after
The major shift in the rebrand for The Blake School, which was designed by Allison Blum Le, was taking “school” out of the wordmark. That move inspired an ad campaign that started with Edit Barry writing one line:
“School is an understatement.”
Minneapolis’s academic powerhouse for students in PK through Grade 12 had earned a reputation for excellence that warranted a subtle, confident, and sophisticated redesign. A white-on-Blake-blue ad series and viewbook cover stood out for their simplicity against a visually busy competitive landscape.
The admission branding translated into a web rebuild in collaboration with Finalsite, which incorporated the ads and implemented the new brand toolkit to complement the print work. Blake has updated its website since, but the foundational brand toolkit and alumni magazine have continued to serve Blake’s needs for going on a decade.
““I wholeheartedly recommend Allison and Edit. The assets they created in the comprehensive rebranding they did for Blake — logos, website, publications, and more — remain the foundational tools of our narrative and visual identity.””
Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Service (LIRS) Brand Refresh & Creative Support by E&A Collaborative
Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Service reached out to E&A in need of materials to welcome new donors. E&A honed LIRS’s messaging and refreshed their visual identity just in time to support exponential growth in the organization’s footprint and fundraising.
“One of the first decisions I made when I arrived at LIRS was to hire E&A Collaborative. I was looking for an agency that would elevate our brand visually and wordsmith a succinct elevator pitch. Within a few months, E&A had refreshed the identity system and messaging, writing the 30-second, 60-second, and 2-minute intros that I lean on at every donor meeting and presentation. While E&A was helping us connect with our audiences with fresh creative in print and online, including three years’ worth of stunning annual reports, our organization experienced exponential growth – increasing revenue tenfold. Their work has truly moved us and helped push our mission forward.””
The Winsor School Websites
creative strategy | web design | copywriting
Winsor School’s goals for its school website redesign were clear: Better reflect the academic experience. Highlight the benefits of being in Boston. Focus on the joy of the student experience. And avoid looking “girly.”
A comprehensive campaign microsite would launch first, so we designed it to marry with the school website’s visual elements without giving away the surprise. Both sites incorporate a fresh color palette, refinements to the use of typography, and custom illustration. The main site’s headline, “Go for Greatness,” is both an invitation and a bold challenge to inquire and apply to Boston’s top private girls’ school.
Both sites were custom built on WordPress by DesignTLC. The school site was awarded MarCom Gold.
““Edit and Allison’s meticulous, thoughtful, and creative work demonstrated a deep understanding of Winsor’s community and culture. They seamlessly translated our school’s essence into design and messaging—striking the perfect balance of academic rigor, the energy and spirit of our students, and a strong connection to the city. The campaign site is equally stunning, capturing the ambition and inspiration behind our comprehensive campaign with clarity and impact. Their work is sophisticated, intuitive, and truly reflective of who we are. Beyond their talent, they were an absolute joy to collaborate with, and I look forward to working with them again at the first opportunity.””
Wittenberg University Viewbook and Other Admission Publications
messaging | creative direction | publications design | graphic design | copywriting
Wittenberg University is an exceptionally welcoming college community where students feel known, pushed, and supported. When it comes to the admission process, Witt may be the most welcoming college in America. E&A Collaborative sought to prove it in a classic suite of admission recruitment publications. Gorgeous photography; friendly, open, inviting typography; and playful layouts that coax readers to tilt their heads once in a while establish Witt’s personality. The copy is warm and wise, often amplifying the voices of Wittenberg students and spotlighting their stories. They tell the Witt story best.
“To support our enrollment efforts, I needed partners I could trust from start to finish, and that is exactly what I found at E&A. After intensive qualitative discovery, Edit and Allison were able to tell our story in an authentic way, with genuine thought and care put into each page. And the end product speaks for itself. We have memorable admission material and a rich communication flow that clearly shares who we are.”
Grace Episcopal Day School Website
Messaging | Content Strategy | Information Architecture | Web Writing
When a new head of school takes the helm, a new website is sure to follow. That truism held at Grace Episcopal Day School, where the website was long overdue for an update. More important to Grace than a design refresh, however, was clear messaging to capture the heart of the institution. We believe strong web messaging starts at the top, so that's where we put it: on the homepage and in the navigation itself. At Grace, the school and its site are "An Invitation to Wonder."
Content strategy and web writing by E&Aco; web design and build by Design TLC. Website shown with permission from Grace Episcopal Day School.
Due in large part to strategic investments in communications tools and a remarkably efficient web development process spearheaded by Design TLC, within eight months of site launch Grace had earned itself an enrollment increase of 17% year over year.
“ From a site visit, to interviews with our parents, to conversations with our staff and leadership, Edit was completely invested in understanding our community and in helping us identify — and communicate — what makes it different and special. From arresting taglines to in-depth descriptions of curricular approaches, everything Edit created expressed our identity perfectly. ”
Santa Catalina School
creative strategy | admission design | copywriting
Edit and Allison’s creative mission with Santa Catalina’s admission team was to align the marketing materials with their new brand strategy. The duo produced two admission packages, one for the all-girls Upper School and the other for the coed Lower and Middle School. The Upper School package went on to win a CASE Circle of Excellence Bronze award.
Upon completion of the print packages, Edit and Allison provided strategic insight and creative direction to the design and development team at Finalsite, Santa Catalina’s chosen web partner. Finalsite incorporated the brand toolkit, information architecture, photography and copywriting by Edit and Allison into two Santa Catalina websites united by a single portal.
Grinnell College Admissions Package
creative direction | graphic design | copywriting
This creative-only, research-free recruitment package went from concept to finished product in short order, starting in spring for use in the fall. It not only won awards – it also contributed to an unheard of 50% bump in applications.
All materials used with permission of Grinnell College; writing and design by Edit Barry and Allison Le
All materials used with permission of Grinnell College; writing and design by Edit Barry and Allison Le
All materials used with permission of Grinnell College; writing and design by Edit Barry and Allison Le
All materials used with permission of Grinnell College; writing and design by Edit Barry and Allison Le
All materials used with permission of Grinnell College; writing and design by Edit Barry and Allison Le
DePauw University Capital Campaign
branding | graphic design | writing
with Neustadt Creative Marketing
From writing the working case to guiding the Board through naming to designing the logo and identity system — not to mention production of the campaign case statement, newsletter, and invitations — our work on the Campaign for DePauw was comprehensive. The campaign would raise $380 million, making it the largest in the university’s history.
All materials and logos used with permission of DePauw University
Wesleyan University Viewbook and Student Recruitment Publications
creative direction | publications design | graphic design | copywriting
Wesleyan students are intense, and this print suite gets at every way in which that's the case. They’re intensely intellectual, social, athletic, and so on.
When it comes to creative execution, the intensity is in the details. In the way it supports a bold message with heaps of examples, this suite exemplifies how to make a message do two great things: 1) come through at a glance, and 2) richly reward close reading.
This work won Wesleyan a Silver CASE Circle of Excellence Award.
“Edit and Allison’s CASE-award winning work has helped us to effectively communicate the values of our institution to our prospective student audiences, and they undoubtedly would help other organizations be able to do the same.”
All materials used with permission of Wesleyan University; produced by Neustadt Creative Marketing
All materials used with permission of Wesleyan University; produced by Neustadt Creative Marketing
All materials used with permission of Wesleyan University; produced by Neustadt Creative Marketing
All materials used with permission of Wesleyan University; produced by Neustadt Creative Marketing
All materials used with permission of Wesleyan University; produced by Neustadt Creative Marketing
All materials used with permission of Wesleyan University; produced by Neustadt Creative Marketing
E&A Collaborative | strategic branding and creative campaigns for educational institutions and mission-driven organizations
