This project invites students to apply graphic design principles to real-world business challenges, focusing on developing cohesive branding and identity systems. Through engagement with local business partners, students conduct interviews, perform market research, and utilize design software to craft materials that capture each company's unique personality and values. This experience cultivates communication, critique, and revision skills while empowering students to transform their insights into professional-quality visual storytelling and practical design solutions.

Students will gain hands-on experience by working with local business owners to design a visual identity that communicates the brand's core values and personality to its target audience. Through applying design thinking principles, students will hone their interview and public speaking skills, synthesize market research, and effectively utilize industry-standard design software. They will refine their ability to critique and incorporate feedback, ensuring designs are versatile across digital and print platforms. This project encourages collaboration, problem-solving, and the creation of a cohesive design system, culminating in a professional proposal and presentation.

Students will create a comprehensive branding package for local businesses, including logo designs, style guides, and marketing materials tailored for both print and digital platforms. A cohesive mood board will visually narrate the brand's identity and core values, aligning with user personas developed through market research and client interviews. Design briefs and professional project proposals will be finalized, showcasing innovative solutions that address the client's needs and desired goals. By the end of the project, students will have a portfolio that includes polished presentations and revisions derived from critiques and feedback sessions, demonstrating their proficiency in using professional design software and methodologies.

Students will embark on the 'Identity Quest,' a dynamic scavenger hunt around the school or neighborhood to explore successful branding and design elements. Teams will gather insights on logos, color schemes, and marketing materials, documenting successful strategies. The quest will culminate in a collaborative session where students share their findings, draw connections, and brainstorm initial ideas for their own design projects, setting the stage for the hands-on work ahead.

The culmination of this project will be a community exhibition where students showcase their completed branding and identity projects for local businesses. This event will include presentations where each design team explains their process, creative choices, and the impact of their work on the client's objectives. Local business owners will be invited to provide firsthand feedback, and the exhibition will serve as a platform for students to gain real-world insights. Additionally, attendees will have access to a digital portfolio with student work and testimonials, offering an interactive experience for all participants.