In the Summer A term of 2023, RMCAD students Austin Sears, David D’Alesandro, and Emilie Gauvain completed a rebrand of the Horse Protection League (HPL) for RMCAD’s Design Systems course, which primarily focuses on engaging in long-term projects that address brand design, applications, and identity management. The local nonprofit is “dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and re-homing equines that have been abused, abandoned, or neglected, and to provide them with the necessary care, love, and attention they need to thrive.”
“We were in search of a client, and the Horse Protection League needed our services, so the timing was just perfect,” explained Assistant Professor Heidi Landis. Throughout the eight-week term, Sears, D’Alesandro, and Gauvain worked tirelessly to identify creative solutions to dramatically increase the nonprofit’s creative opportunity in the marketplace. In addition to supporting a local business, Landis encouraged her students to make the most out of this portfolio-worthy experience which can be essential in landing a creative role post-graduation.
In the last week of the term, HPL Board of Directors Erin Quinn and Bob Ridgeway visited RMCAD to listen to the class’ pitch made up of a new brand identity, color palette, typography, design elements, and more. Creative sparks filled the air as the students got their presentation underway. “We understood HPL’s central theme of ‘Rescue, Rehome, and Rehabilitate’ which is embraced throughout many of our design pieces,” said Gauvain. The level of professionalism presented reflected strongly on the integrity and attitude of the RMCAD students. “We’re extremely impressed with the level of dedication that Austin, David, and Emilie have had for the HPL,” Ridgeway stated. “I just can’t thank everybody enough on how much this means to our organization.”
At the end of the pitch, Quinn and Ridgeway were blown away by the attention to detail and creative ideas the students presented in their final deliverables. “We would love to stay in touch with all three of you for future work,” Quinn explained to the students. Just before the two left the classroom, the students gifted them a physical brand guidelines book to take with them for all of their future design-related work. Looking towards the future, HPL plans to implement several creative changes that will move the organization’s mission forward for years to come.
Are you interested in being a part of projects just like this? Check out our online and on-campus Graphic Design programs today. We also recommend reading What you can do with a degree in graphic design to learn more about career opportunities within the field.
