Brand Makeover for Open Strings

 

The new music charity Open Strings, which supports music-making for over 50s and disadvantaged groups, has received a brand makeover from the design agency Ellipsis as part of our on-going Brand-You collaboration. We've catch up with Ellipsis and Open Strings to hear about the result of this great project.

The view from Ellipsis by Catherine Hampshire:

The design request
Open Strings is a Brighton & Hove based charity that encourages older adults and other disadvantaged groups to make music with stringed instruments (cellos, violas and violins). The charity runs sociable regular projects that appeal to all abilities and are essentially fun! The new logo needed to represent the stringed instrument, movement and essence of Open Strings. It also had to appeal primarily to older adults, but also to potential funders and sponsors. Friendly, approachable and professional were key words used to describe the potential new identity.

The solution
The design options initially presented focused on the elements of the instruments. The response from Bela Emerson, the charity's founder, was extremely positive. We then developed her preferred option to further include the string movement and the workshop names 'Silver Strings', 'Sing Healthy, Sing Happy' and 'Strings Unbarred'. The final logo is unique, elegant and shows passion for the instruments and music.

The result
The inspiring cellist logo has been refined and applied to stationery and website designs. We have enjoyed working with Bela and Open Strings and hope that the strong new identity will help the cause go from strength to strength.

Response from Open Strings by Bela Emerson:

Ellipsis has been very helpful and supportive, listening carefully to our ideas and developing them, continuing to check in with us. 

They've communicated really well and sent some great ideas along; they've also been very open to input and happy to adapt to what we've needed. It's definitely been a collaborative approach, which has suited us really well.

We now have a professional-looking logo and design which will enable us to reach more beneficiaries, supporters and funders and which will form the basis for our expanding range of visual communications.