The future
is north!
Old North St. Louis Restoration Group
Restoration, Renaissance, Revitalization—All words that describe the atmosphere in Old North St. Louis, an eclectic, historic neighborhood on the edge of Downtown St. Louis. Leading the community development efforts in this urban village is The Old North St. Louis Restoration Group (ONSLRG). With a mission to rebuild the physical and social dimensions of the neighborhood, ONSLRG has fostered revitalization through a series of forward-thinking initiatives, promoting the neighborhood as an investment opportunity, rather than a quick fix. They came to Almanac at a critical time in their history, ready to evolve, and looking for a brand to represent all they had become. "So much of the focus of our organization's work has been related to celebrating the past, so the mere suggestion that the "old" logo needed to be replaced could have triggered a divisive battle," says Sean Thomas, executive director of ONSLRG. "Almanac was able to help us navigate a process that brought a fresh perspective to our brand."
"Developing our new brand represented a significant challenge, with a lot of diverse and sometimes conflicting opinions about what needed to be reflected in our logo..."
Almanac developed a brand for ONSLRG that communicates the positive aspects of city living, the unique historic architecture of the neighborhood and most of all, the warmth of the people. And we gave it all a modern urban/cool edge.
"Developing our new brand represented a significant challenge, with a lot of diverse and sometimes conflicting opinions about what needed to be reflected in our logo," says Sean. "Because our organizational brand is so closely tied to the neighborhood it serves, the brand needed to say something about our broad range of activities, as well as the community's ambitious aspirations. Almanac helped us achieve that tall order by presenting us with several themes and concepts, and allowing us to discuss our options which ultimately led us to stronger support for the eventual selection."
When ONSLRG began a Capital Campaign to support a variety of neighborhood social projects, community gardens, a newly renovated office and community art gallery, they asked Almanac to translate their brand to fundraising materials that would resonate with their potential donors. The look we created embodies the energy and spirit of the area—diverse, friendly, interesting, yet rooted in the historic architecture and urban sensibilities of the Old North St. Louis area. Working equally well in print and on-line, the messaging and materials focus on the area's most important asset—the people.
"While signaling that a new day has dawned in Old North, our new brand also carries with it a timeless element that conveys an appreciation for the community's rich history," says Sean.
