How we helped a Seattle icon introduce its refreshed brand to the community and elevate its powerful mission.
Seattle, WA
Nonprofit
Focus: B2C, Internal
CONTEXT
With new leadership and an infusion of entrepreneurial energy, Seattle's iconic Pacific Science Center was ready to tell its story in a fresh, bold way. They had invested in an updated brand strategy and visual identity, but their agency had closed and they needed help launching the new brand concept.
Vitamin C worked closely with PacSci's leadership and creative team to develop an extensible, evergreen brand campaign, and to activate the revitalized brand across a number of high-profile touchpoints including signage, cafe and concessions naming, events naming, and membership program design.
VITAMIN C SERVICES
Brand Strategy
Competitive analysis and comprehensive brand audit
Translation of overarching updated brand strategy into brand campaign strategy
Development of high-level messaging maps
Brand Activation
Brand voice and tone development
"Be Curious" campaign guidelines and creative direction
Café/concessions and event naming
Membership program development and naming
Ongoing guidance for brand activation and overall communications
Brand Expression
Development of short, medium, and long "Be Curious" content
Overall creative and content direction for large-format ads, print, social media, website, monthly themes, and other formats
MOMENT OF CLARITY
Curiosity was central to PacSci's mission, and we explored a number of takes on it, from playful "Curiosity Rules" to an open-ended "What happens when...?" format. One campaign concept, "Stay Curious," particularly resonated with the team for its active language and concise expression, which we knew would work particularly well on "quick read" formats like bus wraps and billboards. PacSci's CEO suggested a wording tweak to draw in new visitors, and "Be Curious" was born.
CREATIVE INSPIRATION
When we explored names for PacSci's newly revamped cafe, snack cart, and bar area, we turned to the mission for inspiration. The core idea of "igniting curiosity" evolved into the Fuel Up Café and Spark Cart. "Fuel Up" also incorporated a cue for visitors to come upstairs to find the cafe on the 2nd floor, a somewhat out-of-the-way location. We continued the theme with Gravity Bar, a new lounge area where visitors could enjoy local beer, wine, and cider near the entrance of the Boeing IMAX theater, on the very lowest level.
CONTENT CLIP
COLLABORATORS
PacSci internal design team
HAPPY CLIENT
"Grateful to have you as a partner. Thank you for all the amazing work you've done for us!" Eleanor Bradley, Chief Commercial Officer
"I'm excited about this! The emotional/experiential feel of the [Be Curious] text overall is just what I might have hoped for." Sarah Moore, Living Exhibits Manager