A Little Background
After six years in business, learning what clients need and refining how we best serve them, I knew it was time for a refresh. A new look, updated positioning, and an optimized service suite that truly aligns with our purpose.
When I started Acton Circle back in 2019, I didn’t have a clear vision. I was fresh off quitting my full-time design job and had a 4-month-old in tow. Over the years I worked with all kinds of businesses—big and small, from tech and haircare brands to startups and Fortune 500 companies. But a few years in, I felt a pull to do more meaningful work. That’s when I dove into the nonprofit sector—headfirst, eager to learn.
Now, after a few years of working with purpose-driven businesses, I have a better sense of the people we serve—their challenges, their passion, and how they show up every day to create change.
One thing remains the same: the heart of Acton Circle. Our mission is still to use design for social good. To create more good, amplify voices, and drive impact.
Why We Rebranded
Like any business, we’ve evolved—both in our work and in my own life as a mother of three young children and a business owner. Along the way, I’ve discovered how I love to help clients, what truly excites me, and what actually moves the needle for organizations.
I’ve always been a huge advocate for design and firmly believe it’s so important to an organization’s growth and impact. But I took a step back and realized our services needed to work together more seamlessly, offering real value—not just being the most affordable option or checking a box.
For years, I undersold our work. But the truth is, what we offer at Acton Circle is among some of best design in the nonprofit space. That’s not just my opinion—it’s reflected in client feedback, the insights of our internal team, people who get to experience our collective work, and the space we’ve carved out as a go-to creative partner for mission-driven organizations.
The Heart Behind It
With renewed confidence in our mission and services, it was time to elevate the brand. We’ve positioned ourselves as a premium design partner—offering high-end, specialized expertise that delivers exceptional value for purpose-driven organizations. The shift in pricing now better reflects our years of expertise, dedication, and the continuous improvements we bring to our clients.
Before this rebrand, Acton Circle was pieced together with minimal strategy, and it worked…until it didn’t. Now, it’s built with much more intention—rooted in purpose and still inspired by the legacy of my grandparents, Cornelius and Essie. They instilled in me a deep sense of service, love for people, and faith in God—values that shape how I show up in the world.
Even our new brand design carries meaning. The handwritten elements in our signature pay homage to my grandfather’s unique penmanship, specifically the way he wrote the letter “C” and his distinct line strokes.
To complement this logo that draws from a very tender memory, I chose a primary font that fully embodies the warmth, professionalism, and prestige of Acton Circle: Fairplex (it’s a plus that it’s practical and easy to read). I also wanted our color palette to be grounded yet engaging—complemented by playful icons and patterns that reflect our dynamic and fun-loving team.
So yes, our brand may look different, but the essence of what we do is still the same—if not richer than ever before.
At our core, Acton Circle is built on:
- A Legacy of Service: Carrying forward a heritage of meaningful impact, approaching every project with purpose and creating ripples of positive change.
- Intentional Craft: Every design choice made with care, with an emphasis on quality over quantity.
- Heart for Mission: A deep understanding of purpose-driven work, genuine care for client impact, and mission-aligned partnerships.
- Strategic Wisdom: Thoughtful problem-solving, experience-informed guidance, and purpose-driven solutions.
More than that, we believe in:
✔ Creating heartfelt designs that reflect the soul of your mission, not just another design
✔ Sharing your real stories with care and authenticity, from the small victories to the major milestones
✔ Growing together as partners who genuinely celebrate your successes and understand your challenges
How It Benefits You (Our Clients & Community)
We’ve refined our services to create even more impact, with a specialty in annual reports at the center of our work. But we’ve also streamlined the process! From what used to take months, we now deliver in just two weeks. And we go beyond that—helping organizations repurpose their content quarter after quarter, maximizing their investment.
I can’t tell you how many clients have asked us about modular reports or ways to repurpose content. Now, we handle that for you.
We’re also continuing our microsite services, believing more and more organizations will shift toward digital experiences for storytelling and engagement.
Our focus has never been clearer, and we’re excited to serve clients in efficient, meaningful ways.
Beyond refining our services, we’ve built out our team with strategic hires:
⭐ Sittie: A powerhouse at repurposing content into graphics and creating Canva assets to empower your team.
⭐ May: The coordination queen, keeping everything on track and ensuring we hit deadlines.
⭐ Krista: Our content and editing expert, helping clients make the most of their materials.
⭐ And I’m still here, leading creative direction and sharing design expertise through Linkedin, templates, and educational resources to help organizations reach and engage their communities more effectively.
The Learning Process
I won’t lie—this rebrand was a journey. I went into it thinking, “Oh, it won’t be that much work. I’m the expert, I help people do this for a living.” WRONG! I underestimated what it would take, especially as a small team. Without a thorough plan, things took longer than expected. I did a lot of extra work, which showed me how important plans and briefs are—even when you know your brand well.
Some other lessons we learned along the way:
Start with positioning. Before diving into design and aesthetics, it may be worth it to meet with a brand positioning expert who can identify the gaps between how you’re currently showing up vs. how you want to show up. This external perspective helps to inspire new ideas and fresh perspective.
You know your brand best. While you can outsource parts of the process, you hold the vision. Stay involved, give feedback, and be ready to make refinements.
Be okay with iterations. Sometimes, you need to see something before realizing it’s not quite right. That’s okay. Go back to your goals and adjust.
Plan your rollout. There are a lot of moving parts—branding updates, website changes, marketing materials. Prioritize and execute in phases.
Start Your Design Journey With Acton Circle
Here’s how we can support you:
- Explore Our Resources: Check out our blog, guides, and case studies to learn how purpose-driven organizations are using design to amplify their impact.
- Join Our Email Community: Be the first to access our upcoming premium Canva templates that will help you create professional, mission-aligned visuals in minutes—perfect for social media, reports, and presentations.
- Book a Discovery Call: Hop on a call to talk about how partnering with us can help turn your annual report into an effective fundraising, communications, and all-around visibility tool.
Choose the path that best fits your needs—we’re here to support your mission every step of the way.
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