Change Needed

Having seen Orchid’s centenary campaign for Seymour Hotels, the school knew we understood how to make a milestone matter. The school’s 175th anniversary needs to reach everyone: pupils, parents, staff, alumni and the wider island community. It therefore needed more than a logo. A marque that would complement the existing school brand identity – that Orchid had revitalised ten years earlier – was needed that would reflect 175 years of heritage whilst showing a confident forward-looking school. It would need to work at any size and on any format, and fit easily into the school’s everyday communications.

Our Solution

We started with strategy, working with the school to understand how the anniversary will be marked through 2027. Then we turned to the school’s archive and walked through its most recognisable landmark, the Victoria College school building. The turrets and gothic stonework have stood firm for 175 years, so we made the battlement the heart of the VC175 marque. We then developed ways it can be brought to life across the year of celebrations, providing creative ways to engage with existing and past pupils, to drive recognition, celebration and ongoing financial support.

Having developed the VC175 marque, with five gold supporting house icons, we provided a full brand guide to support rollout across BAU school materials and website. And we’ve created a full suite of anniversary memorabilia options – from an aniversary tie, to house wines, cufflinks and notebooks, all made to be enjoyed and treasured long after the anniversary year ends.

The Results

The anniversary year has just begun and the the College has one clear identity that connects its past, present and future. We are excited to see every element of our creative come to life.