Design and branding specialist Shine Creative announces the launch of a new identity for the Royal Merchant Navy Education Foundation (RMNEF).
Established in 1827, the RMNEF is a British national children's educational charity, which provides funding for the needy British children of Merchant Navy seafarers, professional sea-going fishermen and RNLI lifeboat crew members. Its Patron is HM The Queen and its President is HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, KG, KT, OM.
Hampshire based Shine Creative was asked by Foundation Secretary, Commander Charles Heron-Watson, to develop a refreshed brand for the charity in advance of the 2013 Annual General Meeting, at which the Foundation's new identity was launched on Tuesday. The decision to rebrand the charity came as a result of a newly expanded remit, coupled with an update to the name - from the Royal Merchant Navy School Foundation to the Royal Merchant Navy Education Foundation.
The new logo was designed to communicate both the rich heritage of the Foundation and its future as the newly launched RMNEF. The bold use of green, white and red was chosen to communicate the Foundation’s continued direct connection with the Merchant Navy. In addition to the new brand, Shine also developed a supporting strapline - Education is the Foundation. This reinforces the importance that the charity places on 'enabling education' for children and young people - from birth through to obtaining professional career-entry qualifications.
A range of marketing materials, including a new website at www.rmnef.org.uk, were also created to support the new identity and were unveiled at Tuesday’s AGM, which was attended by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.
Outlining the reasons behind the rebrand, Secretary Commander Charles Heron-Watson commented, “We needed a refreshed identity which would herald the beginning of a new chapter for the Foundation. It is too easy for young people to lose their way if they don’t have the right support. Our aim is to guide as many children in need as possible, within our beneficiary class, throughout their educational journey and their route into employment, through financial and practical support. I believe the new site and marketing materials truly encompass the ethos of the Foundation as we strive to achieve this.”
Samantha Stokes, Creative Director at Shine Creative, added: “We were delighted to get involved with this project as we already have extensive experience and interest in the education sector. For the RMNEF, we were keen to draw on its history, but also to bring the Foundation very much into the 21st Century. We opted for a simple and clean design across the literature and website in order to create a sense of accessibility and fuss-free help. The Foundation’s work has made such a difference to so many young people’s lives, and we are thrilled to have been part of its latest venture.”
Notes for editors
About Shine Creative
Shine Creative is an experienced, accommodating, professional and flexible design agency. It has been in business since 2000, and during that time has provided a safe pair of hands for its clients in many different industry sectors, whilst also managing to keep a vibrant and zealous attitude in every piece of work it undertakes. Whatever the project, from the simplest business stationery or leaflet to the most complex integrated marketing campaign or global website, Shine approaches every brief with the same level of enthusiasm and creativity.
Branding, graphic design, online marketing, web design, copywriting and print communication is what Shine Creative does every day. The agency's ability to quickly understand each client's business, grasp what makes it special and then make it appealing to the people that matter is a talent. But real talent is the ability to deliver intelligent solutions as painlessly and effortlessly as possible. This is where Shine Creative excels.
About the Royal Merchant Navy Education Foundation
The Royal Merchant Navy Education Foundation started life in 1827 as The Merchants’ Seamen’s Orphan Asylum, providing board, lodging and education for the orphans of British Merchant Navy seamen.
It is now a British national children's educational charity, which provides funding for the needy British children of Merchant Navy seafarers, professional sea-going fishermen and RNLI lifeboat crew members, who have served or are serving at sea and who are unable to meet their children's educational needs. Its Patron is HM The Queen and its President is HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, KG, KT, OM.
The RMNEF helps its beneficiaries, or 'Foundationers' as they are called, by providing support that 'enables education' - which could be anything from school fees, textbooks or uniform, right through to computers, internet access or even shoe repairs.
