Industry: Government & Nonprofit
Portland Means Progress:
Prosperity through equity.
When the City of Portland approached us with the task of clarifying this important social responsibility initiative, we turned to Portland’s collaborative ethos for inspiration, starting with naming the initiative itself.
Portland Means Progress provides resources and supports businesses committed to advancing prosperity through diversity and equity. At its founding, the initiative set out to raise the citywide standard for equitable business practices as a way to strengthen the health and future of Portland as a whole.
Services
Naming
Brand Identity
Messaging
Creative Campaign
Our team approached the creative process with a goal of appealing equally to business and civic sectors. Inspired by Portland’s collaborative ethos, the name Portland Means Progress captures the goal of citywide inclusivity and the initiative’s future-minded mission. It says, “let’s get to work,” inspiring action and a sense of brighter opportunity.
Driven by four main promises—living wages, experience, training, and support—the messaging for early promotional pieces extended a clear invitation: “Mean it with us.”
The name and assets we designed continue to promote the initiative’s mission in print and online. Since 2019, the Portland Means Progress business network has grown to include more than 134 businesses representing over 40,000 employees, and to date, PMP companies have directed more than $465 million toward BIPOC-owned businesses.
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