Community Guides
This case study highlights the design and production of three print publications:
Community Emergency Preparedness Guide for the Town of Canmore
Wildfire Preparedness Guide for the Town of Banff
“The Weathered Wisdom Project” Gardening Resource & Journal for Local Food Matters
Each project shared a common need for clear communication, approachable visuals, and well-structured information. The goal was to produce helpful resources that stand out visually while remaining accessible to diverse audiences.
Wildfire Guides
Project Objectives
Town of Canmore
Create a guide that educates residents on emergency and wildfire preparedness.
Communicate crucial steps (e.g., evacuation procedures, emergency kits) in a concise, easy-to-digest format.
Incorporate imagery that resonates with the local environment and highlights the seriousness of wildfires.
Town of Banff
Develop a companion guide focusing on wildfire awareness, evacuation planning, and safety checklists.
Ensure brand consistency with Banff’s existing identity while differentiating the piece from Canmore’s guide.
Present FAQs and checklists in a way that encourages quick reference and readiness.
Wildfire preparedness and gardening guides both handle substantial amounts of information—from evacuation checklists to planting schedules. The challenge was to distill content into logical, visually digestible sections.
Balancing Urgency & Approachability
For the wildfire guides, we needed to balance a serious tone (emergencies, potential hazards) with an approachable design so that readers wouldn’t feel overwhelmed.
Visual Cohesion & Brand Alignment
The Town of Canmore and Town of Banff each have distinct branding guidelines and brand identities. Ensuring that both publications followed their respective brand standards while feeling visually related in style was key.
Print Production
Both municipalities prioritized sustainable printing options and high-quality finishes.
The layout had to be well-suited for both on-screen reading (digital distribution) and traditional print.
The Weathered Wisdom Project
Local Food Matters sought to create a gardening resource and journal that would inspire home gardeners to explore sustainable food production. Titled “The Weathered Wisdom Project,” this publication needed to strike a balance between providing practical, easy-to-follow gardening tips and engaging, creative journal pages. The result is a whimsical and informative guide that celebrates nature, community, and self-sufficiency.
Project Objectives
The Journal needed to Equip readers with actionable tips, best practices, and resources to start or improve their home gardens. Needed to incorporate journal-style sections that encourage gardeners to track their observations, progress, and learnings throughout the growing season. Use of illustrations, iconography, and design elements that evoke a warm, inviting tone, encouraging participation and highlighting the joy of gardening.
Design Challenges
Organizing Dense Information
Gardening topics (soil health, planting schedules, pests, seed saving, etc.) can be detailed. Simplifying these topics and grouping them in an intuitive way was crucial.
Encouraging User Interaction
Since this is also a journal, plenty of white space for notes, sketches, and garden logs had to be integrated into the layouts without compromising design elements.
Outcomes & Benefits
Positive Brand Perception
The cohesive, friendly design reinforced Local Food Matters’ reputation as an approachable authority in community-based food security.
Versatile Resource
Both print and digital versions were well-received. Many users appreciated being able to write in a physical journal while also accessing a mobile-friendly copy for on-the-go reference.
Interested in learning more or commissioning a similar project?
Contact us to discuss how we can transform your organization’s content into accessible, visually compelling print and digital resources. Our services include research, creative concepting, custom illustration, layout design, and environmentally responsible print production.