julian grimes \\ strategy + design
title. american forest management
description. brand identity refresh
agency. spark strategic ideas
my role. art director, copywriter, production manager
team. robin foster (dir strategy & brand dev), anne marie holder (ceo)
background.
American Forest Management is the nation’s leading provider of land management consulting and land sales services. Headquartered in Charlotte, the 50-year old company retained SPARK Strategic Ideas in the Fall of 2015 as its first ever marketing partner. The overarching needs were to develop a new identity and generate national awareness for the brand. The company had no previous consumer presence.
challenge.
Historically, American Forest Management’s marketing efforts were limited to trade ads, real estate property ads, trade shows and direct mail. Many of these ads and collateral materials had been created at the local or regional level (49 offices across the country) and thus lacked consistency.
solution.
We developed strategic communications plans and creative materials designed to generate awareness in an integrated and consistent manner while incorporating the new brand identity.
The entirety of the communications plan and brand rollout included:
Print and digital media strategy and planning
New brand and land sales print advertising
First-ever digital media advertising
New website content –
copywriting and photography
New collateral materials –
brand, real estate and wildlife services brochures
PR strategy and planning
PR media kit
I focused on establishing the brand's core values, mission and vision, visual identity, tagline (tone and voice), and branded collateral.
competitive and stylistic audit.
an outdated sea of green dominated by serifs, dominant names and heavy line weights.
logo evolution.
v1 design comparison
2nd iteration
1st design, completed by freelance designer
design evaluation
graphic standards.
Primary Brand Colors
PMS 431
PMS 539
PMS 7624
Typeface and Font Family
logo redesign.
must haves.
logo must be symbolic representation of the company vision — simple, memorable, timeless, versatile, appropriate, ownable.
tagline.
