Overview
I led the creative direction and design of Together We Thrive, an event for local United Ways, with a focus on bringing the organization’s refreshed brand to life in a cohesive, compelling way. The result was a flexible visual system that elevated the experience across every touchpoint—while staying mindful of a limited budget.
"The location and United Way branding were exceptional—it truly made me feel like part of something big."
"I enjoyed seeing the new branding in a large scale. The branding in the space made me more excited
about our next steps in rebranding".
"The branding was beautiful--professional and uplifting."
The Challenge:
The Approach:
United Way had recently evolved its brand, and this event was a key opportunity to showcase that evolution to internal teams and stakeholders. Our goals were to:
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Translate a newly refreshed brand into a physical, immersive experience
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Do it in a way that felt polished and inspiring—without the luxury of a large production budget
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Everything needed to feel cohesive, intentional, and scalable across a wide range of materials
I focused on building a design system rather than a one-off event look—something that could flex across formats while maintaining a strong, unified presence.
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The concept centered on clarity, warmth, and momentum—reflecting both the mission and the forward-looking energy of the refreshed brand.
I prioritized:
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Bold, optimistic color and typography drawn from the updated identity
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One core graphic element that was visually strong and instantly recognizable, but also flexible enough to be used in many different ways
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A balance of inspiration and usability, ensuring materials were both beautiful and functional
The Execution:
The Outcome:
I designed the overall look and feel, then art directed my team to bring the system to life across a wide range of applications, including event signage, presentation templates, digital assets, and print materials.
The system was intentionally built to be:
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Flexible – adaptable across formats and content types
Efficient – easy for teams to implement without overdesigning or overproducing
Consistent – maintaining a cohesive visual language across every touchpoint
Despite budget constraints, we were able to create a polished, high-impact experience by leaning into smart design decisions and reusable components.
Together We Thrive became one of the most successful and well-received events in recent United Way history. The work not only showcased the refreshed brand at its best, but also provided an example of a scalable system that teams could continue using beyond the event—extending its impact well past a single moment.
This project reinforced the value of designing systems, not just deliverables. By thinking holistically and building for flexibility, we were able to create something that felt elevated, cohesive, and enduring.
