CASE STUDY - PROSPECT SIERRA

A brand shaped from within

Developed a distinctive campaign platform to reposition a private school, increasing enrollment, awareness, and community engagement.

Prospect Sierra, a private K–8 school in Albany, CA, was looking to attract new families while re-engaging its existing community. Known for integrating art deeply into its curriculum, the school needed a clearer and more cohesive way to express that creative spirit across its communications.

Approach

The focus was not to reinvent the brand, but to reveal it—building a unified system that could express the school’s creativity with clarity, consistency, and authenticity across every touchpoint.

Scope

  • Creative Direction

  • Brand Messaging

  • Design Strategy

  • Photography Direction & Production

  • Advertising

Annual Report

A Cohesive System

A unified suite of materials was developed to support both internal alignment and external communication, each piece designed to work independently while contributing to a larger, cohesive whole.

  • Taking Flight (School Magazine)
    A full-color editorial publication blending storytelling, student work, and community voice

  • Annual Report
    Reframed as a narrative-driven piece highlighting impact and culture

  • Print & Online Advertising
    Clear, approachable messaging designed to connect with prospective families

  • Leave-Behind Folder System
    Modular materials supporting admissions conversations

  • School Brochure
    A foundational piece articulating the school’s philosophy and experience

  • Strategic Plan Brochure
    Communicating long-term vision with clarity and confidence

Consistency across typography, layout, and imagery created a system that feels intentional, flexible, and built to evolve.

Editorial as Expression

Taking Flight—a full-color magazine designed to capture the voice, creativity, and culture of the school.

Blending editorial design with original photography, the publication created space for longer-form storytelling—allowing the brand to feel more immersive, dimensional, and alive.

A Visual Language, Not Just Documentation

Photography was developed as an integral part of the brand, moving away from staged, institutional imagery toward a more natural, expressive, and human approach.

Shot on location, the work focused on real moments, light, and environment, capturing the energy of the classroom and the individuality of each student.

The imagery was designed to live seamlessly within the system, reinforcing a brand that feels both thoughtful and authentic.

Result

The result is a brand expression that feels true to Prospect Sierra—creative, grounded, and quietly confident. A system built not just to communicate, but to reflect the spirit of the school and the students within it.

In just three years, that clarity translated into measurable impact: new student enrollment increased by over 30%, overall awareness rose 74%, and family retention and referrals grew by 14%—driven by stronger connections and a more engaged community.