Case Study
World Hope International
The roots of WHI can be traced back to the vision and heart of its founder, Jo Anne Lyon. From a humble start in 1996, in the back bedroom of her home in a church parsonage, to the leading-edge Christian relief and development organization it is today, she sought to empower the poorest of the poor around the world so they can become agents of change within their communities.
Today, World Hope is recognized by partners and governments alike as a successful service model for those in need in the areas of global health, clean water and energy, agriculture and social ventures, access to education, and protection from human trafficking.
Identity Design
Maxim Design Group has worked with World Hope from nearly its beginning. We developed their logo and visual identity and helped them connect with donors through campaigns, newsletters, and gift catalogs that have educated donors, raised funds, and recruited child sponsors.
Their logo has stood the test of time. First designed in 2003, the symbol reflects their commitment to standing should-to-shoulder with donors and the people they serve. The “people” in the symbol are arranged to show interdependence: donors, staff, partners, and individuals in the communities they serve. The gold color shows optimism and hope. It is also associated with love and compassion. The symbol is spinning forward, conveying a sense of momentum and improvement.
“It has been my honor to work with Maxim Design Group under the leadership of Sharie Schnell for the past 20 years. Her work is of the highest quality, her design is creative, clean and forward thinking. She expresses in design a vision that is beyond words which compels a following.”
Jo Anne Lyon
Founder, World Hope International
As WHI grew and expanded their reach in many countries around the world, it became increasingly important that they speak with one voice, clearly and coherently telling the a consistent story to donors, partner organizations, grant providers, news media, and the people they serve. In 2017, President and CEO John Lyon, asked us to create brand guidelines to help ensure their consistent voice and strong identity.
One of the challenges has been that signs, like those used near newly drilled wells to credit the grant partners as well as promote good sanitation practices, are often painted freehand, especially in rural areas. The results were mixed, but sometimes the logo was unrecognizable. The solution: we created reusable stencils for the painters.
Scope of Work
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Brand Strategy
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Logo & Visual Identity System
- Brand Guidelines
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Environmental Graphics:
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Production Management
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Communication Design Consulting
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Website consulting
Celebrating 20 Years
When World Hope celebrated 20 years in 2016, they organized a series of events hosted around the country to thank their donors, cast a vision for the future, and engage new benefactors in their work. Maxim Design Group created an anniversary logo with a rising sun (the shoulder-to-shoulder symbol) to support the theme, “Looking back with gratitude, looking forward with hope.”
Program Icons
World Hope’s channels of work are broad yet interconnected to respond to complex issues faced by people trapped in poverty. They needed a clear visual strategy to tell about the work they were doing in the different areas. We developed a set of color-coded icons that quickly identify the program area when they tell about their work on their website, in newsletters, and appeals.
“They give us exactly what we need, even when we are not that precise in our scope of work. You can give Maxim a few sticks and they will make the right kind of fire for you with little input.”
John Lyon
President & CEO, World Hope International
