gdusa designing for good award winner

HARLEM ACADEMY

Harlem Academy is an independent school that drives equity of opportunity for promising K-8 students, guiding them to thrive at the highest academic levels and one day make a mark on the world. They approached us to create a design system for their 20th anniversary that celebrates this key milestone and captures the school's rigor and joy.

Art Direction
Print Design
Illustration

We started with color. Adding a secondary palette of vivid colors infused energy and joy, while complementing their tried-and-true “Harlem blue”. We then layered in some texture and grit with a halftone dot pattern. And finished it off with illustrations that celebrate the borough of Harlem and showcase notable buildings connected to the school’s past and present.

Bold, rigorous & joyful.

The impact report was the key piece of this momentous year. Highlighting the many proud moments and student success stories in the school’s 20-year history, it was designed to instill confidence and pride for current donors and create an emotional connection that inspires future giving.

"We came to 7 Layer Studio with a strong feeling about what we wanted but not a clear vision for what it should look like. We loved the energy and creativity they brought to the design process. They came up with a design that exactly fit what we wanted — and that we never could have conceived of or pulled off without them. It set the perfect tone for the launch of our 20th year."

— Vanessa Scanfield, Strategy Director at Harlem Academy