DEI Awareness Month Visual System

Context & Challenge
As the organization’s employee resource groups (ERGs) expanded, so did the visibility and importance of DEI awareness months. However, there was no approved visual system to support these moments. ERGs were limited to using the core brand logo, with no sanctioned graphics or identity tied to specific awareness months.

In practice, this created a gap. Teams wanted visuals that reflected the meaning and energy of their communities, but without clear guidance, many resorted to manipulating the primary logo or creating unsanctioned assets. The result was a “Wild West” of well-intentioned but inconsistent visuals that introduced brand risk and put creative teams in a reactive position.

The challenge was to bring order and clarity to this space—without diminishing the authenticity or significance of DEI initiatives.

Strategy
Rather than enforcing stricter controls or limiting expression, I approached this as a governance and enablement problem. The goal was to create a flexible visual framework that allowed ERGs to represent their awareness months clearly and respectfully, while still aligning with brand standards.

The strategy focused on:

• Establishing sanctioned alternatives to logo manipulation

• Creating a repeatable system that could scale year over year

• Balancing creative expression with accessibility and brand integrity

Solution
I led the development of a DEI Month visual system that provided ERGs with approved, purpose-built assets they could confidently use across channels. The system included:

• Dedicated logos and graphic marks tied to specific awareness months

• A cohesive color and typography approach aligned to the broader brand

• Flexible layouts optimized for digital communications and events

• Clear guidance on appropriate usage to prevent future logo misuse

By introducing a toolkit instead of one-off designs, teams were empowered to create meaningful, on-brand communications without needing to improvise or request constant support.

Impact
The introduction of a sanctioned DEI visual system:

• Eliminated unauthorized logo manipulation

• Reduced brand risk while increasing creative confidence

• Improved consistency across ERG communications and campaigns

• Shifted creative support from reactive enforcement to proactive enablement

Most importantly, it allowed DEI initiatives to be visually recognized in ways that felt intentional, respectful, and aligned with organizational values.

What This Enabled
This work demonstrated how thoughtful systems design can replace ad-hoc behavior with clarity and trust. It informed future approaches to cultural and awareness-based initiatives, reinforcing the role of creative operations as a partner in governance, inclusion, and scale—not just asset production.