The problem is, we are just not getting out into nature as much as we should. In fact, there’s clear new evidence that says that children who play and explore outdoors feel less stressed and may develop more confidence and greater social skills. It’s just that problem The Trust for Public Land and The North Face wanted to address. How do we get people out into nature again?

The two organizations came together and decided it’s high time someone promoted the incredible diversity of local parks and outdoor spaces, right here in the city. And so Iron was commissioned to write and design the “San Francisco Urban Nature Guide: 2009.” This handy pocket map features nine of the city’s lesser-known, but fun-filled parks, with suggestions on how to make the most of our time in the great outdoors. The guides are free and being distributed through The North Face stores this summer. It’s time to put on a pack and hit the park!

I was lucky enough to attend the event and was thrilled to learn it raised a phenomenal $550,000! Click here to see pictures from the event. With this money, the Clubs will continue to run vital programs that help kids succeed in school, build strong character, develop healthy lifestyles and graduate from high school with a clear post-secondary plan.

We’re also putting the finishing touches to the organization’s web site, which is due to launch in the middle of the month.

Read more about our nonprofit work
Read more about our web design work

Our challenge was to craft a story that reflects the single-minded, client-centric focus of the bank, while simultaneously appealing to the diverse needs of their high-net-worth clients. The result? A straight-talking, business-like brochure that relies on the strength of the message and the integrity of the brand, rather than any linguistic or graphic gadgetry. In uncertain economic times, it’s a little bit of what we all need.

• Take a look at our other financial services work

This exciting project builds on our ongoing program of work for the Cancer Center and gives us an opportunity to develop and strengthen the brand further.

• Download a PDF of some of our recent SCC work

In August we began working on an exciting collaborative project with The North Face and The Trust for Public Land, designed to get people out of the retailer’s store and into some of San Francisco’s lesser-known parks.

In-store maps will feature 10 parks you probably haven’t heard of, encouraging consumers to make the most of their North Face gear in some unexpected places. Below are our first round of creative concepts, featuring a standard map right through to an interactive “park calculator.” We’ll keep you posted as the project takes shape!

We chose a simple, elegant design, printing directly onto die-cut aluminum, to evoke the beauty of the Gaggenau product line. The card is presented in a sleek jacket to further mirror the aesthetic and sensory experience of owning a Gaggenau appliance.

• Find out more about Gaggenau

So you can imagine our skepticism when Steven Johnson of Addison Ashley told us “My company’s not like that.” But once he told us how he ran the company and what he believed, our faith in the mythical can-do IT company was restored. And we set out to find the message and the voice that would do the same for the rest of the world. First, we defined the following key messaging points:

1. Listening Skills – They actually find out the client needs and issues before they start work.
2. Accountability – They do what they say they’re going to do, when they say they’re going to do it. (Eyebrows raise)
3. Responsiveness – They know you wouldn’t be calling them just to say “hi”. So they get back to you right away… not several days later. If it’s urgent, within 30 minutes.
4. Efficiency – They partner with key resources like internet and phone providers so they’re ready to move, or get your office set up within 3 days. Less if you need it.

From there, we built a “proof is in the pudding-backed brand.” And to add impact, we leveraged the fact that Addison Ashley really could put their money where their mouths were, by recommending they offer a “2-day test drive.” (A free trial, at no risk.)

Over the following months, we developed a complete identity system, including logo, stationery, brochure and a website that communicated all of this. Now, the next time your email goes down, you know who to call.