Nonprofit brand refresh case study

California Human Development has worked since the 1960s to help people in northern California build self-sufficiency. Based in Santa Rosa, it serves 31 northern California counties with programs in training and employment, affordable housing, immigration assistance, disability services and addiction recovery.

Its new canopy carries its message in Spanish: “Sembrando habilidades para cultivar los talentos de los campesinos.”

The organization needed a coordinated collection of branded materials that would present a professional, recognizable identity across event displays, staff apparel and participant giveaways.

Before anything went into production, its visual identity needed consistency, especially its color palette and the way the brand was applied.

We began with a targeted brand refresh, consolidating the color palette and writing brand guidelines to guide every application.

With those standards in place, we coordinated the selection, design and production of the promotional products and event materials, and every item followed the approved guidelines. Strategic brand decisions connected directly to production, the way our Essential Corporate Identity and merchandise, apparel and signage services work together.

Completed as one coordinated project in October 2026, this work shows how a consistent brand foundation can guide many branded products at once.

Instead of treating each item as a separate purchase, we approached the project as one brand experience, aligning design decisions, product selection and production with the organization's identity. The result is a coordinated set of brand-compliant materials that support a consistent, professional presence across its community outreach.