Grid110 | Community Branding — Young & Co | Top Boutique Creative Branding Agency Los Angeles

What we did

Brand Strategy Messaging
Visual Brand Identity
Print Collateral Event Materials Lifestyle Imagery
Website

Grid110 is an economic and community development non-profit dedicated to creating clear pathways to success for early-stage entrepreneurs. Through their cohort-based accelerator programs, they provide founders with a growing community of fellow entrepreneurs, expert mentorship, and critical resources.

Challenge

Grid110 approached us about a rebrand early in 2018. At the time, the brand had a website utilizing mostly stock imagery, but no formal messaging or brand assets. While the team had a general idea of the customer, they hadn’t been through a strategic branding process before and were struggling to appeal to the ideal audience. Still widely unknown amongst entrepreneurs, the CEO was determined to create a brand that reflected the inclusivity and unique value of their programs.

Opportunity

Using the DTLA location of the nonprofit - and inspiration behind their name- as our backdrop, we were inspired to craft the vibe of Grid110 around the urban appeal of the city. We set out to make the brand represent the kind of community where entrepreneurs would feel welcome and supported on their startup journey. Something that reflected beginnings and clarity in direction - with no unnecessary fluff.

Solution

Once our strategy revealed the niche audience, mission, values and vision of the brand, we had a clearer picture of where the team wanted the creative execution work to go. We were inspired by the natural colors of the city with mainly concrete buildings and grayscale tones, except for the occasional taxi providing a burst of yellow. For a recognizable wordmark, we landed on a contemporary font and graphics that were indicative of both points on a grid and pathways. To give the brand a more authentic appeal, we produced a lifestyle photoshoot for original imagery assets and designed + wrote copy for a simple, easy-to-follow website.

Results

After working with us, the brand experienced an immediate increase in traffic and additional funding. Their audience was able to recognize themselves in the new brand, creating a sense of belonging. Long term, the brand has reported a noticeable difference in their brand awareness locally, with more members indicating they’d heard about and recognized the brand before applying to the program.