christian sternal

creative director | copywriter

Sometimes you have to completely start over with a brand. But not this one. Seattle U was already one of the smart kids on the block. A well-respected, socially responsible Jesuit university with an activated community, a motivated communications team and a beautiful campus in a global city. All the pieces were there. We just needed to show them how to let their brand off its leash—free to walk the walk and talk the talk.

Sometimes you have to completely start over with a brand. But not this one. Seattle U was already one of the smart kids on the block. A well-respected, socially responsible Jesuit university with an activated community, a motivated communications team and a beautiful campus in a global city. All the pieces were there. We just needed to show them how to let their brand off its leash—free to walk the walk and talk the talk.

Brand Activated

We developed an arsenal of signature graphic moves and marks. Added tons of color. And gave their brand voice a shot of adrenaline—right in the heart. 

That wild, open, kinetic, architectural font we used is called “Frame.” It was custom built just for Seattle U.

A Future-Ready .edu

We gave the main website a complete UX and design overhaul just as the brand was entering its next 125 years. The new site was radically simplified and reorganized to be first and foremost a powerful recruiting tool.

CASE VIII Communications Awards
Platinum Tier – Bronze
Best Practices in Communications & Marketing
2018

125 Reasons To Pivot

A few years after we relaunched the main brand, SU asked us to shift our focus and develop a campaign for a major milestone event—the university’s year-long 125th anniversary celebration. The work was created to speak to the entire greater Seattle community as well as alumni and donors across a wide range of media that included everything from wallscapes and transit out-of-home to display and social. Print, radio and digital swag. 

CASE VIII Communications Awards
Silver
Video & Multimedia Marketing & Branding Video
2018

"One of the Ones"

We created an anthem spot to serve as a bridge from the past 125 years to the future and told a story about the unique kind of individuals who come to SU. It invited others—if they thought they had what it takes—to become “one of the ones.” And it set the stage for the wide range of evolved brand campaign media that followed it.

A 125th Home Base

Every big celebration with this many moving parts needs a digital home base. We created a clean, simple microsite that would answer just about any questions visitors had, help them plan for events and get involved.

[ORIGINAL BRAND TEAM]  ECD tammo walter  |  CD/CW  kyle arango  |   MANAGING DIRECTOR megan pomplas  |  ACCOUNT DIRECTOR  isaac bodenhamer   |  DESIGNERs simon blockley, bryan hill  |  CWs ryan hammill, christian sternal  |  ACCOUNT SUPERVISOR jeremy groff   |  ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE ralf bennett  [125TH AD CAMPAIGN] GCD sig gross  |  ACD/CW christian sternal  |  DESIGNER willy scions  | WEB TEAM:  DIRECTOR of INTERACTIVE ryan blain | ACD of INTERACTIVE brandon ancone  | ACD/CW christian sternal  |  CWs jen nash,  kristen scharf  |  INTERACTIVE DESIGNER zack gort | TECH LEAD marcus mcclean |  BROADCAST:  CD/BROADCAST/DIRECTOR  kp  |  CD/CW christian sternal  |  DP kevin lang  |  POST PRODUCTION DIRECTOR  anderson bradshaw   |  ACD/EDITOR max paollucci  |  EXECUTIVE PRODUCER tom ammon  |  PRODUCER eric botel   |  ACCOUNT SUPPORT:  ACCOUNT DIRECTOR alexandra bellis   |  ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE sarah light  |  PROJECT MGR jenna force