SERVICES
BRANDING
CONTENT CREATION
SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING
EMAIL MARKETING
WEBSITE MANAGEMENT & DESIGN
THE CHALLENGE
Gig Buddies is a project set-up by the charity Stay Up Late that pairs adults with learning disabilities with volunteer buddies to attend gigs and social events together, promoting friendship and inclusion. They needed a strong brand presence that reflected their inclusive, fun and community-led ethos, while helping raise awareness of the charity’s work. With multiple partner projects around the world, there was a need for unified branding to create a clearer, more consistent look and feel. The goal was to make sure all online messaging felt accessible, exciting and authentic, connecting with new audiences while still resonating with and representing the existing Gig Buddies community.
THE APPROACH
With future expansion in mind, we created a flexible brand system that could grow with Gig Buddies, bringing together multiple partner projects under one clear identity while keeping the charity’s personality front and centre.
BRAND EVOLUTION
It was important to retain the energy and ethos behind the original logos, whilst increasing legibility and accessibility. The charity is well loved and established, so a sensitive evolution of their recognisable logos would be most appropriate. With a refreshed top level style established, we had a consistent frame work to apply across partner projects creating one unified brand voice. However, in-keeping with the grass roots nature of partner projects, it was important to allow each location space for its own identity. Each project could choose one or two variations to reflect their personality and preferences.
REELS
When I wanted to tell a slightly longer and more personal story, reels were the perfect medium to provide a platform to voices at the centre of the organisation, or offer an authentic insight into charity events.
SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT
A PERFECT MATCH
The core idea of the project is to match volunteers with participants, creating an environment for genuine friendships to flourish. Sharing the adventures of both newly matched and long time buddies gives a window into the impact the project is having.
COLLABORATIONS
Integrating into mainstream venues is a central aim for the charity, therefore showcasing the links and support they have with both local and national businesses was crucial.
WEBSITE MANAGEMENT & DESIGN
NEW WEBSITES
As the digital ‘front door’ for the charity, their two existing websites needed updating to ensure brand consistency, improved accessibility, and to reflect the organisation’s growth. Working with the team at Distil, I led the refresh, creating clearer, more streamlined sites without losing the charity’s distinctive energy. I also manage ongoing updates and maintenance through the Statamic CMS.
PREVIOUS HOMEPAGES
PROJECT
MARKETING
I helped inject energy into the charity's printed and digital documents by extending their graphic toolkit. This provided visually engaging and impactful communications that reflected the charity's personality and brand.
Annual Review
Job Packs
Origin Timeline
IMPACT
The refreshed brand and supporting digital work strengthened Gig Buddies’ presence across platforms, improving visibility, engagement and consistency while supporting awareness and fundraising goals.
This resulted in:
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A clearer, more recognisable brand across partner projects, helping unite global initiatives under one identity
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High-profile partnerships and collaborations with organisations such as Ticketmaster and Kerrang! Radio, helping amplify Gig Buddies’ work, reach new audiences and raise awareness of the charity’s mission
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More consistent, accessible messaging across social, web, merchandise and project materials, reinforcing Gig Buddies’ fun, inclusive and community-led ethos
100K+
views on Instagram (+983%) and 6.1K reach (+27%) since working with the charity
2.1K
Instagram content interactions (+825%) and 1.2K Facebook interactions
309
New Facebook followers (+301%)
4K
Facebook visits (+15%)
