ABOUT

The Brief (A few lines about the client brief) -

We’ve been working with Blackpool Council on establishing a vibrant, safe and eclectic Rainbow Quarter in the seaside town.

Developed in partnership with local community organisations, the ‘Be You’ initiative focuses on nine important areas (public realm, safety and security, arts, heritage and culture, young people, health and wellbeing, business support, marketing and communications, and governance) that are essential to LGBTQ+ inclusion and community.
This initiative is one close to the heart of Whistlejacket and we were delighted to be asked to work on the project. We set about to create a design system that encapsulated the current spirit of LGBTQ+ community yet still paid homage to the courageous and brave souls that have made it what it is today.

Mediums (In what mediums was the project done in. e.g. print, digital, app) -

Digital

Concept (Brief, objective, budget, relevance to brand, target audience, etc) -

In just one year, the number of LGBTQ+ venues in Blackpool has increased by 10 - the town now has a total of 23 active venues. These include a variety of LGBTQ+-friendly bars, cafés, and high-quality accommodation providers - growth driven by newfound confidence in the town’s inclusive vision and proactive community support.
Blackpool Council needed an identity to not only support the growing infrastructure in the town but also the actual community, fostering unity and providing them with a sense of pride.
The identity needed to speak to the LGBTQ+ community, Blackpool as a town and to the wider world, declaring how proud you should be to ‘Be You’. It also needed to work as a visual anchor across social media, campaigns and real-life assets for the initiative.
Execution (Elements, styling, materials, technology, process, development, scope, etc) -

Our first order of business was to meet with the community groups involved to learn more about the initiative and what they were hoping to achieve from the identity. We then started our research phase, where we looked at LGBTQ+ areas in other cities and previous assets.

The main influence on the design came from our research into Blackpool and tapping into nostalgia marketing by examining Blackpool’s own primary sources, finding what we can from old social media posts and print media.

We combined the old with the new, ensuring that the ‘Be You’ identity takes you on a journey, paying respect to those who came before us while looking to the future of the community.

Our final work culminated into a bold and brilliant design system, including a custom logo and comprehensive brand guidelines. The core colours of the ‘Be You’ identity are sourced from the Progress Flag, linking to the renowned and recognised LGBTQ+ colours but with a Blackpool spin.

Results (Reach, engagement, sales, accuracy to the brief, etc) -

The Blackpool Council team and wider audience, including the community groups we worked with and LGBTQ+ members, are delighted with the work and have expressed how it captures the essence of the community perfectly.

The launch of the ‘Be You’ initiative takes place on 26th June, in perfect timing with Pride Month. Cllr Jo Farrell, Cabinet Member for Communities and Wellbeing at Blackpool Council said:

“The work that has taken place over the last 12 months is phenomenal and a true testament to what a community can achieve when it comes together with clear aims and actions. Blackpool has always had an active and longstanding LGBTQ+ community. Now is the right time to harness that passion, creativity and drive. We are committed to supporting the Be You campaign and creating a safe, inclusive and inspirational Rainbow Quarter for everyone.”

Shaun Pickup, community lead for the Be You group, said: “We are delighted with the progress that Blackpool has made during the last 18 months creating a new Rainbow Quarter and ‘Be You’ initiative.

“We want a town that is welcoming, diverse and inclusive of all, and a Rainbow Quarter with a clear and vibrant LGBTQ+ identity where all people feel safe and valued.”