Challenge

Create a grass-roots communication platform to support the many strategies needed to meet the challenge of climate resilience and adaptation in New York and New Jersey.

Solution

A multi-platform brand tool kit for use by the organization as well as community organizers. It not only includes the expected elements of a brand program but a plethora of assets for social media and local events.

Result

An inclusive program to give citizens a united voice in calling for policy reform and comprehensive solutions to climate change.

Nine years after Hurricane Sandy, as the New York and New Jersey region suffers from the COVID-19 catastrophe, we have been tragically reminded yet again of our vulnerability to crisis—and how disasters like these have too often been borne unequally by those with the fewest resources. Rise to Resilience (R2R) is  a campaign to address the greatest threat to our region’s future: our vulnerability to the climate crisis.

 

The future of our communities, jobs, safety, health, infrastructure, and wildlife and natural habitats are at risk from flooding and other impacts associated with climate change. We need bold, inclusive, community- and evidence-based action from policymakers at every level of government. Rise to Resilience is the movement to make it happen.

The Waterfront Alliance convened 100 coalition partners including residents, business leaders, community and social justice leaders, volunteer organizations, scientists, environmental advocates along with engineering and design professionals to inform the public and advocate for greater governmental protections to fight the climate crisis.

We created a multi-platform brand tool kit for the organization and its affiliated community organizers, resulting in an inclusive program giving citizens a united voice in calling for policy reform and solutions to climate change.

The campaign launched in July 2020. Challenged by Covid19, the effort had to move to virtual platforms coordinating the effort between the client, two communication agencies, (Decker and Berlin Rosen)  and numerous community volunteers. In spite of the challenges, the campaign (which continues) accomplished the passage of two significant pieces of legislation.

At the federal level, the Rise to Resilience coalition secured language in the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 to ensure that the Army Corps must consider climate projections and prioritize natural and nature-based approaches in flood management projects flooding, as well as the input of affected communities. These changes will help to ensure that the Army Corps takes a comprehensive approach to flood management across the nation and in the coalition’s home region of the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area.

In the state of New Jersey, Rise to Resilience successfully secured the passage of a law that requires all municipalities in the state to incorporate climate resilience into municipal master planning efforts (formerly Assembly Bill 2785). Proactive planning for climate change is an important part of reducing the hazards of climate change that communities face.

 

In 2021, the coalition is tackling land use and capital investment rules and frameworks to ensure New York City and the State of New Jersey are investing in resilience in every aspect of our planned and built environment so that the region may thrive for generations to come.

Our program includes a bold logo/call to action which is applied on all communications. The website is being created using an agile methodology so that it could be launched quickly—additional content is being developed and will be added on a scheduled basis to coordinate with specific news releases.

Starting with the baseline of brilliant design, professionalism and on time performance, what sets Decker Design apart is Lynda’s ability to deeply understand the needs and aspirations of the organization she is serving and the passion and dedication to work collaboratively to get the product right.

Roland Lewis, CEO, Waterfront Alliance

There is a secondary suite of elements to visually tie in all of the related events that are scheduled for the fall of 2020. Each logo consists of a wave combined with another element. The system begins with a wave and a line to represent the land and water, City of Water Day is a city on the sea, the Waterfront Conference is a speech bubble with the wave and Heroes of the Harbor, the annual gala is represented by a circle (the award is a lifesaver) floating over the sea.

A graphic of a globe combines the elements and is meant for webinar backgrounds, t-shirts and social media. We created an entire program of emojis, and social stickers to amplify the programs social media presence.

In the next month we will be designing the full policy platform report. Our goal is from a federal green economic recovery, to nature-based solutions at the local level, to well-paying green infrastructure jobs, these solutions, among others, will bring our communities back stronger than ever.

Creative Director:  Lynda Decker
Senior Designer:  Susanne Adrian
Junior Designer:  Jason Mangelson
Interactive Designer:  Ryan Bresser

Award Won:
GDUSA American Graphic Design