long
live
real
learning

The Northwest School

Brand Refresh & Website

With an aging visual identity, and a desire to compete for new students while improving service to their existing constituents, The Northwest School (NWS) hired us to help them tell a unique and compelling story by updating their visual and verbal brand. Their new brand is built around the idea of “real learning,” a concept that comes to life through a rich and versatile identity system.

Client

The Northwest School

Disciplines

Identity, Digital, Print

Website

northwestschool.org

Copywriter

Leah Idler

The Northwest School's building on 401 East Pike

The House (logo)

The Northwest School’s logo depicts the distinctive old school house at the center of their campus—a structure near and dear to the hearts of students, teachers, and alumni alike. The affinity for the original logo, in addition to the fact that it was designed by a former student, established a rationale for continued use of the symbol as a way to maintain a sense of continuity and legacy. We redrew the logo to fine-tune subtle details and to create a more functional digital file.

Northwest School's House Logo

The House (illustration)

In addition to the original logo, a more metaphorical “house” illustration was created to represent the idea of “real learning.” It captures the interconnected nature of the NWS program and the warmth and playfulness of the school community. At the same time, it echoes the shape of the beloved house. An extended system of iconography was derived from the house illustration to represent an array of ideas and subject matter.

Northwest School's House Illustration
Northwest School's Postcards

Website

A new, content-rich and fluid responsive website& was one of the most critical touch points we developed for the updated brand. Not only did it need to clearly serve as a recruitment tool, but just as importantly, it needed to empower students, parents and alumni with easy access to critical information.

In close collaboration with the NWS team, Turnstyle developed an engaging digital presence that tells the Northwest School story while also providing a platform for ongoing communication to key audiences. An immersive ambient video on the home page portrays the vibrant school-day experience. Sections about the school, programs and community detail the school’s unique philosophy and approach, while portals organized around students, parents and faculty provide to up-to-date information, calendars, and resources. Built on the Craft CMS, it’s easy for any employee at the school to contribute to or edit the site with an hour or less of training.

Screenshot of Northwest School's website homepage
Screenshot of Northwest School's website homepage
Screenshot of Northwest School's website upper school page
Screenshot of Northwest School's website primary navigation
Screenshot of Northwest School's website subnavigation
Screenshots of Northwest School's website on a mobile device
Screenshot of Northwest School's website on multiple mobile devices

Northwest School Magazine

The Northwest School Magazine is published twice a year (Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer) and serves families and friends of NWS. It reports on many different subjects relating to the school, its programs, faculty, students and alumni. Our redesign sought to enliven editorial-style layouts with an underlying grid that facilitates hierarchy and negative space. Color-infused typography and imagery further energize the compositions.

Cover and layout of Northwest School Magazine
Layout of Northwest School Magazine
Layout of Northwest School Magazine
Layout of Northwest School Magazine
Layout of Northwest School Magazine

Collateral

We designed a wide range of print materials including a view book, posters, postcards, promotional wearables, and brand guidelines specifying visual language elements such as the lively color palette, bold new typography, photographic image treatments, and friendly iconography.

Northwest School's Brochure Cover
Northwest School's Brochure Intro Layout
Northwest School's Brochure Spread
Northwest School's Brochure Spread
Northwest School's Brochure Spread
Northwest School's Brochure Inserts
Northwest School's Brand Guidelines
Northwest School Icon Illustrations
Northwest School Icon Illustrations
Northwest School T-Shirt
Northwest School Tote Bag

Next Project

A NEW
VOICE IN
CATHOLIC
EDUCATION