WE ARE OCEAN – Talking Monkey

christian sternal

creative director | copywriter

It’s about people helping people with cancer turn up the positivity in their lives through ocean-based experiences and activities. WAO shows survivors how to get back to living, develop healthy habits, and lean on and learn from others who understand what they’re going through. All while surfing, paddleboarding, sailing, or diving and camping. And amazingly, it doesn’t cost participants a cent.

The Catch-22

WAO is a nonprofit that receives all of their financial support from corporations and individuals who expect their funding to be used to help people and keep the program going—not pay for advertising and branding. However, it’s tough to stay relevant and funded—and keep people engaged—without a brand identity. So we stepped up, honed the brand voice, and reimagined the brand ID using handcrafted lettering and custom illustrations. Then retooled the website and created their key print collateral—on a shoestring budget.

Whiskey Alpha Oscar [Expand]

The illustrations under the words “We Are Ocean” below are stylized versions of the international maritime signal alphabet flags that represent the letters W, A, and O.

The Survivor Guide

They needed a practical piece that they could put in the hands of cancer patients and survivors to let them know about WAO and the programs they offered. This piece could be distributed through local hospitals and doctors’ offices, and handed out by counselors and other survivor participants.

agency TEAM