The logo of Activate Parking Possibility with the word 'activate' in large white letters and 'Parking possibility' underneath in white on a red background, with a small red triangle above the 'i' in 'activate'.

Activate Performing Arts

Providing clarity, consistency and structure to a leading arts organisation.

THE CLIENT

Activate promote, support and produce some of the most exciting events nationally and internationally. Their aim is to break down barriers and reach the widest possible audiences, support artists, whilst celebrating our natural landscape and sense of place.

THE CHALLENGE

Over 30 years the organisation has grown exponentially. Their offering has ebbed and flowed and is largely dictated by national arts and local authority funding. They are a charitable organisation. Because of this, the brand as a whole, and subsequent printed and digital communications became disjointed and inconsistent. Both internally and externally it was hard to understand the company structure, vision, mission and values. It was time for a top to bottom review and brand refresh.

Application

Brand identity
Brand guidelines
Brochures
Banners
Advertising
Website
E-comms

Stand out

Brand guidelines & production packs

Further Links

Website

THE SOLUTION

This complex rebrand involved many stages and various communication specialists. Initially it was important to achieve ultimate buy-in from all stakeholders. We carried out extensive research and challenged senior management to think about what Activate means to them and the wider audience. This work resulted in a messaging platform, providing clarity and confidence. With a clear platform in place, we were then able to look at the visual and apply consistent stylings across all offerings enabling the organisation to look more like a connected brand family, with a clear parent. The organisation could now move forward with a shared vision, as shown below.

Activate Strands
Group of people dancing and posing on stage with a blue background, with the text 'The Remix' in the upper left corner.
A street performer dressed as a futuristic drummer with shiny metallic costume and LED lights, performing for a crowd at night on a brick-paved street, surrounded by spectators including adults and children, many taking photos.
Activate: Sense of Unity Press Pack
Flyer explaining the Remix and Premix youth performance groups; background scene of children and adults in colorful clothing performing outdoors in a street festival.
Poster for Dorset Youth Dance, featuring a group of young dancers holding wooden dance props against a dark background, with a large yellow Y-shape design and yellow background at the top.
A promotional poster with a pink background and black text about supporting creative professionals in performing arts. The bottom section features a semi-transparent pink overlay with children running outdoors, with a central child wearing a colorful costume and paper crown.

Anything is possible and everyone is invited

Language and tone of voice has been vital to the repositioning of the Activate Performing Arts brand. All communications needed to feel accessible and inclusive, whilst igniting curiosity and wonder. Activate wanted to draw people in, excite them and make them feel welcome.

Four vertical banners promoting the 'Activate Performing Arts' program, each with the same slogan and different images: a person on a ladder by the sea, a group dancing, a fireworks display, and a moon visible through an arched hall.
A close-up of a person's hand holding a small white card with black and yellow text, outdoors on a blurred green background. The card has a motivational quote about live performance and youth dance, with a yellow triangle design element.
A young girl and a man posing in front of a colorful graffiti mural. The girl is wearing glasses, an orange shiny jacket, a black cap, and checkered shoes, giving a thumbs-up. The man is holding a microphone and a clipboard, wearing a red T-shirt with a yellow smiley face and the text "Save the World," beige pants, and sunglasses.

WHAT WE DELIVERED

No stone was left unturned and over a 12 month period every part of the organisation was given its own look, tone of voice and messaging. Activate has a broad calendar of events and a covid pandemic really disrupted this, whilst raising the profile of their artistic/charitable support.

Their signature event, a FREE outdoor arts festival (Inside Out Dorset) really provided a platform to launch the new brand to the full.

brand identities
brand guidelines
iconography
banners
brochures
festival literature (Inside Out)
advertising
website
e-newsletter
People participating in an outdoor event or walk along a trail surrounded by nature.
Smartphone displaying a webpage with information about free dance workshops, showing an image of dancers performing with red props.
Black and white image of a person walking with an umbrella in the rain.

Lost & Found Creative surpass all expectations of working with a design company; they go above and beyond to ensure our brand is represented properly in all areas of our work. Their team understand our working style and throughout the big rebrand kept us on track with finding the right way to articulate our vision and mission across all our marketing assets. It’s a pleasure to work with Andy and his team, they just ‘get’ how design should be and no job is too big or too small for them.

Verity Shallaker
Marketing & Communications Manager

Image credits

Mike Petitdemange
Roy Riley
Tony Gill
Brent Jones
Jayne Jackson