A Bold Return to In-Person Meetings

The pandemic forced organizations like the National Association of Independent Schools to quickly shift to virtual conferences in 2020, now they are transitioning back with renewed purpose. While this year’s larger NAIS annual conference remained digital, the association invited a smaller group of heads of schools to the inaugural NAIS Heads’ Summit in Baltimore—an event prioritizing connection and conversation for the two days prior to the annual conference.

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All aboard the Lewes Line!

Getting to popular beach destinations in Lewes, Delaware, is going to be easier in 2022. KINETIK is creating the branding for the city’s summer shuttle pilot program—the Lewes Line. Promising to ease downtown parking congestion, the new shuttle service will stop at Cape-May Lewes Ferry, Johnnie Walker Beach, Savannah Beach, Otis Smith Park, Canal Front Park, the Lewes Library, and other frequented Lewes hotspots.

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Reflecting on 25 years of health education

With the 2023 National WIC Association’s suite of calendar materials in progress, KINETIK looks back on 25 years of a successful collaboration that brings recipes, cooking tips, and health and wellness information to WIC clients. KINETIK’s innovative designs have been featured on literally tens of millions of creative and colorful wall and pocket calendars in English and Spanish that have helped America’s low-income, nutritionally at-risk women make healthy life choices for themselves and their children.

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KINETIK + NAIS reach 1,000-project milestone

In its more than 30-year history, KINETIK has had the privilege of collaborating with many long-time clients. As 2021 rolls to a close we are celebrating one of those relationships—the National Association of Independent Schools launched its 1000^th project with KINETIK. From dozens of conference brand identities to development of online communities to strategic positioning of this organizational thought leader, the KINETIK and NAIS partnership has resulted in thoughtful communications solutions, one thousand and counting.

40 projects, 40 years

International Architect Bruce Skiles Danzer, AIA, first collaborated with KINETIK when he launched his own firm in 2002—Lab [3.2]. The award-winning identity KINETIK created for Lab [3.2] mirrored Danzer’s modern and innovative practice. Nearly two decades later, KINETIK is excited to partner with Danzer again to create a book highlighting 40 projects spanning his 40 years of design.

Focusing on the positive for 2021

For almost two decades, KINETIK has annually reimagined the calendar for the National WIC Association, one of the most effective nutrition education outreach tools available. The 2021 calendar, “Living Your Best Life with WIC,” presents positive messaging and recipes to help WIC participants learn about nutrition, immunizations, and fun family activities to live healthy lives.

Collaborative and inclusive transformation

NAIS rapidly pivoted their in-person summer Institutes for independent school innovators to online delivery in response to the pandemic but still wanted small gifts to send to attendees. Inspired by one institute’s interconnected concepts, KINETIK created a fun and thought-provoking t-shirt as a celebratory memento for school leaders who networked from afar at the Diversity Leadership Institute: A Virtual Leadership Journey.

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Imagining possibilities in a new world

“Beyond These Doors: Activating Our Communities,” the theme of the 2021 NAIS Annual Conference, took on new meaning as brand development began in the midst of a global pandemic and anti-racism protests. The resulting brand reflects both a sense of individual place as well as engagement with the world. KINETIK is also developing an identity system for an entirely virtual experience, including a social component for attendees to interact with each other and the organization using their own photography.

Equity and justice conference pivots to virtual

Established in February, the theme for the 2020 NAIS PoCC (People of Color Conference), the organization’s flagship event dedicated to equity and justice, was prescient: “New Decade, New Destinies: Challenging Self, Changing Systems, and Choosing Justice.” It offers a roadmap of sorts, now in the time of a global pandemic and anti-racism protests, to co-create new destinies and help author a new world. Along with developing the brand, KINETIK is strategizing with NAIS to market a reimagined virtual conference.

Creating a place to share important ideas

The educational landscape changed in an instant in response to the COVID-19 crisis. KINETIK worked with NAIS to quickly launch NAIS Sharing Solutions, a user-generated content website, to harness the spirit of educators stepping up to share their strategies.

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History Book Festival reimagined

KINETIK led strategy and design for the History Book Festival of Lewes, Delaware, envisioning and launching a completely reimagined experience in the time of COVID-19. Finding oneself in history looks different this year, but authors and interested readers will still unite through the power of history, literature, and civil dialogue—all via virtual connections.

More downloadable healthy tools

KINETIK worked with Westat and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute on the rebranding of the DASH Eating Plan in 2019. Continuing on the success of the first round of public health educational materials, a 2020 initiative includes short publications about blood pressure, exercise, calorie reduction, the Nutrition Facts label and an overall guide about the entire suite of tools to help users at every stage of their health journey.

Association communications awarded for excellence

Creating compelling communications solutions for nonprofits is the heart of KINETIK’s work, and being recognized as design leaders in the field is always an inspiration boost. KINETIK was honored at Association TRENDS’ Salute to Association Excellence in the 2018 All Media Contest. The NAIS 2017 PoCC Convention Program won Silver in the Conference Program category and the National WIC Association 2018 WIC Calendar took Gold for Promotional Items.

NASAA’s Plan to Empower the Arts

In a bold departure from its minimally designed strategic plans of the past, the National Assembly of State Art Agencies tapped KINETIK to create a publication to reflect the organization’s vibrant vision and bring its mission to life. Creativity, resiliency, collaboration and forward motion were all themes highlighted as the organization outlined its plan to continue to innovate as an influential voice for the arts.

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Going Back to School with NAIS

School is back in session and things are trending up! KINETIK collaborated with the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) to create a back-to-school poster for member schools highlighting opportunities throughout the school year. The poster, which NAIS has seen hanging in school offices around the country, focuses on the organization’s extensive data resources that help administrators shape their schools’ futures.

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KINETIK’s Intern Initiative Marks its 25th Year

KINETIK is a big believer in a robust intern program that gives young designers a chance to do real design work in a collaborative studio environment. Interns become part of the design team—from conceptual stages on projects to final implementation—working directly with senior designers and clients. Now in its 25th year, KINETIK’s intern program has employed more than 65 paid interns since it started in 1992.

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Conference Brand Reflects Mission

The 30^th year of the NAIS People of Color Conference (PoCC) inspired a rededication to the conference’s original purpose and a focus on voices for equity and justice. “Without a voice, equity is just an idea, and justice is just a concept,” writes the conference host committee. “To make these values come alive, we must speak up. So how can we use our words to lift each other up? How can we weave our different perspectives and experiences into a cohesive tapestry?” KINETIK explores this interconnected tapestry visually in the brand.

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ASCE Releases Infrastructure Report Card

The grades are in and America’s infrastructure is barely passing with a D+. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has partnered with KINETIK for several years to create a visual language for its major evaluation of American infrastructure—which assigns letter grades in the familiar form of a school report card—based on the condition and needs for improvement in 16 infrastructure categories. Bold, simple infographics help ASCE make its case to a broad public audience as well as policymakers.

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StudioMB Launches New Brand

KINETIK has found that a unique, tactile gift is both memorable and often kept by recipients. To celebrate StudioMB’s rebranding, KINETIK designed a small flipbook invitation to the firm’s annual party that introduced their new identity. The full campaign included renaming the firm, an identity suite for print and digital media, and brand elements to update the website KINETIK previously designed.

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KINETIK Creates Low-tech User Experience 

KINETIK strives to create unique opportunities for our clients to connect with their key audiences. At a recent annual conference for National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), KINETIK created an analog experience for conference attendees to celebrate the association’s 50^th anniversary. A branded Post-it wall allowed attendees to share what inspires them. The animation features a time-lapse of the installation and attendee participation.

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