When an environmental nonprofit and an agency embark on a rebrand or website redesign, they’re not just tweaking a logo or switching CMS platforms: they’re building an engine for change—one that will serve generations to come.
Since 2005, nonprofits dedicated to advancing climate and environmental solutions have turned to Constructive to help them educate, engage, and activate audiences. We’ve been privileged to learn from some of the most innovative thinkers and leaders on the front lines of the climate crisis.
Constructive has proudly stood beside partners whose research and solutions transcend issue areas—from pioneers in the climate communications and journalism space to ground-breaking environmental researchers and conservationists—we’ve learned how to mold research into inspiring branding and communications. With a focus on research, data, policy and advocacy, we’ve helped cultivate movement-building brands to advance systemic climate solutions.
The way we communicate about our environment has existential consequences. And no matter their issue area or constituency, the environmental organizations we partner with share a powerful vision for our future with the team at Constructive: We all want to safeguard a livable future for generations to come.
Timeline: A History of Designing with the Earth in Mind
2005: Securing America’s Future Energy
Securing America’s Energy Future (SAFE) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing oil-dependency in the United States. SAFE advances secure, resilient, and sustainable transportation and energy solutions by shaping policies, perceptions, and practices. Back in 2005, Constructive helped launch SAFE’s brand. Together, we created the organization’s visual identity, logo and website, as well as policy reports, event communications, and a wide range of signature policy reports that addressed the national security and environmental complications of the nation’s oil importation practices.
With SAFE, we also produced Oil Shockwave, the first-ever oil crisis simulation. To create Oil Shockwave, we worked in collaboration with former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, and we later repurposed the simulation for classrooms to be used in the Harvard Kennedy School.
2007: Electrification Coalition
The Electrification Coalition (EC) has its sights set on advancing the widespread adoption of electric vehicles. Through strategic policy, advocacy campaigns, consumer education, and fleet electrification, the organization has played a critical role developing the electric vehicle supply chain across the United States. When the organization launched back in 2007, they turned to Constructive to help them bring their brand to life. Together, we created the organization’s flagship branding and website, and we published several landmark policy reports and business cases to accelerate the electrification of the United States’s transportation grid and business fleet vehicles.
2011: World Cocoa Foundation
World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) is the world leader in cocoa agriculture and communities, conducting research and operating programs that provide education, business skills, and healthcare to farming communities across four continents. The organization is a model and a leader in sustainable agricultural practices, community development, and a steward of the full value chain of the cocoa industry.
In 2011, WCF partnered with Constructive to rebrand the organization and redesign their website. We also worked with them on the production of their communications, events, reports, and partner materials. In the years that followed, we’ve continued to work with WCF to help the organization advance sustainable agriculture and community development so that cocoa can continue to be sustainably produced.
Learn more about our work with WCF to advance sustainable agriculture and community development.
2012: Institute for Industrial Productivity
The Institute for Industrial Productivity (IIP) works toward a low carbon future by providing companies and governments across the globe with the best practices for low carbon enterprise and energy-efficiency. Constructive and IIP began our partnership in 2012. Together, we developed the organization’s branding and website to speak to the organization’s various stakeholders in the private and public sectors. We also partnered with IIP on multiple data resource projects with an ultimate goal of providing organizations with the resources and information they need to cut carbon emissions.
2013: Acadia Center
“Healthy Climate. Resilient Economy. Equitable Opportunities.” Acadia Center has a bold vision of cutting carbon emissions in the Northeast by 50% or more by the year 2030. The organization takes a collaborative approach to advancing clean energy solutions, and in 2013, Acadia Center (formerly known as Environment Northeast) turned to Constructive when it was time for a fresh identity. Together, we renamed the organization, completed a strategic rebrand, and created a website that could carry their new brand into that bold, resilient future. We also designed and launched their signature report EnergyVision 2030.
Sitting at the intersection of government, industry, grassroots organizations, advocates and communities, the Acadia Center brand and website continues to reach audiences across sectors while centering their courageous clean energy goals.
2013: Yale Environmental Performance Index
In 2013, Constructive and the Yale Environmental Performance Index (EPI) partnered together to set a new standard in environmental data visualization. Tracking data for more than 200 countries’ climate metrics, environmental health, and ecosystem vitality, the EPI is the standard-bearer for measuring international environmental performance.
Looking to take a leap forward in the EPI’s 15th year, Yale asked Constructive to rethink the organization to make its big-data research more accessible, engaging, and useful to a wider audience. Together, we developed a website that empowers EPI’s audience to deepen their understanding of complex environmental issues and their implications for the world. Learn more about our work to advance EPI’s brand in their time of transition here.
2014: ClimateWorks Foundation
Founded by the Hewlett, Packard, and Oak foundations, ClimateWorks is a global climate philanthropy that develops, implements, and evaluates strategies and investments to reduce emissions in the most carbon-intensive regions and sectors. In 2014, the organization began embarking on a strategic plan revision process. During that time of transition, ClimateWorks turned to Constructive to help the organization translate their ideas into branding and a digital strategy that articulated their bold, new vision to accelerate climate action at scale. We worked closely with all of their stakeholders to develop both a new brand strategy and messaging platform to meet the moment. Learn more about how, together, we refreshed the organization’s brand and designed a website that has continued to carry ClimateWorks—and its ambitious goals—into the future.
2014: Yale Program on Climate Change Communication
The Yale Program for Climate Change Communication (YPCCC) is the preeminent authority on the science of climate change awareness and attitudes. The organization provides ground-breaking research and reporting on the psychological, cultural, and political factors that shape public opinion, behavior, and policy.
Looking to strengthen their brand, rethink their publishing strategy, and transform their website, YPCCC partnered with Constructive in 2014 to create a fresh logo for the brand and a website that connects the dots between their brand value and how they deliver it online. Learn more about how Constructive and YPCCC connected those dots here.
2014: Yale Center for Business & The Environment
Yale University is home to the United States’ oldest joint-degree program in business and the environment. The Yale Center for Business and the Environment fosters the creation of sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges. In 2014, the center asked Constructive to revitalize their website. Together, we designed a website that built on the brand’s unmatched legacy and depth of expertise, while showcasing the center’s multi-faceted research, industry-leading student programs, and innovative solutions.
2015: Yale Climate Connections
Yale Climate Connections is a pioneering force in climate journalism, producing daily public radio programming for more than 200 radio stations, as well as in-depth video and written digital content. After nearly a decade of growth, the Climate Connections was saddled with an unmanageable website that undermined their ability to produce research, analysis, or engaging and informative stories. In 2015, the Climate Connections turned to Constructive to redesign their brand and rethink their digital strategy. Together, we developed a visual brand identity to match the premiere brand and designed a website that makes critical climate ideas engaging and comprehensible. Want to learn more about rebuilding such a critical voice in the climate space? Check out our case study on revitalizing Climate Connections.
2016: Climate Impact Lab
The Climate Impact Lab is an unprecedented collaborative of climate scientists, economists, and data engineers from the University of California, Berkeley, The University of Chicago, Rutgers University, and Rhodium Group. To launch the new initiative and support the release of its first major research project, they asked Constructive to develop their brand, website, and a big-data tool that empirically demonstrates precisely how climate change increases global poverty and inequality.
See how we built on this impactful brand’s legacy to carry the Climate Impact Lab into the future.
2017: Climate & Land Use Alliance
The Climate and Land Use Alliance (CLUA) is a collaborative of foundations united by a simple but powerful belief: Healthy forests and sustainable land use are two of the most powerful tools in the global response to climate change. Following a strategic plan revision, CLUA asked Constructive to help them communicate their new strategy to a wider audience with greater simplicity and impact. Together, we created a new messaging framework, program communications, and branding. We also reworked the organization’s website to both reflect CLUA’s new outlook and more accurately represent the breadth of their work.
2017: Air Quality Life Index
With frontier research that quantifies the causal relationship between air pollution and reduced life expectancy, the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) engaged Constructive to create The Air Quality Life Index, a groundbreaking nonprofit data visualization platform.
Their goals? To make clear that air pollution is the greatest threat to human health, and to provide policymakers, leaders, and the public with the insights and tools needed to shape policies that promote longer, healthier lives while mitigating the impacts of climate change. Together, we built a site that clearly demonstrates the impact of climate change and degraded air quality on public health and life expectancy.
We’re proud of the journey we took to create a website that communicates pollution and connects that to health and wellbeing is one we were proud to take on. You can learn more about the creation here.
2017: Regulatory Assistance Project
The Regulatory Assistance Project is a global coalition of experts with a common goal of accelerating our transition to a clean, reliable, and efficient energy future. Garnering support from both public and private decision-makers, the organization has a track record of championing effective clean power sector strategies. RAP partnered with Constructive to create a new website and communications design system, which helped stakeholders around the globe navigate the complexities of power sector policy, regulation, and markets for the sake of advancing clean energy. See behind the scenes on our work with RAP to make their site and system more impactful.
2021: American Forests
Founded in 1875, American Forests is a leading environmental nonprofit and the oldest forest conservation organization in America. Two years after the organization charted a bold, new strategy to expand a national reforestation movement and lead the DEI conversation on Tree Equity, American Forests was ready to re-imagine their website to live up to their mission and the moment. Together, we dived deep into their history, strategic plan, and vision for the future—then, we designed a bold, new website for American Forests that tells their story; connects audiences to an array of issues, programs, and resources; and drives fundraising and volunteering. Learn more about our work to refresh the American Forests website here.
Looking Ahead: Advancing Climate Solutions
EDF+Business
In 2022, EDF+Business (a sub-brand of the Environmental Defense Fund) also turned to Constructive to elevate their brand and carry it into the future. The organization, which is dedicated to tackling sustainability through businesses, decided to embark on a digital transformation with Constructive. Together, we’re working to create an online home for their expertise and reinvigorate their 25-year brand to reflect their continued leadership in science, policy, and economics.
This project will make their expertise in fossil fuel consumption, sustainable food and agriculture, clean air, and more readily accessible and strengthen EDF+Business’s presence as they foster partnership with companies and supply chains.
Urban Sustainability Directors Network
The Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN) is an organization dedicated to partnering with local governments and organizations to cultivate a community of leaders and resources. In 2022, the organization started on a transformative journey for their membership experience with a goal of better cultivating their community of more than 3,000. With sights set on facilitating workshops, trainings, and knowledge exchanges between members, USDN’s new project will help them foster better relationships, grow their membership network, and create an experience that solidifies their status as a community hub. Constructive is proud to stand with USDN and advance this transformation so that the organization can have an even greater impact in advancing sustainable solutions across local governments.
The Climate Trust
Approaching their 25th anniversary, The Climate Trust is seeking to advance their brand and website to further accelerate change in carbon markets, impact investing, and initiatives. Constructive is looking forward to enacting a strategic plan, incorporating a diversity of audiences, and catalyzing climate solutions through a revitalized brand and website for The Climate Trust.
Building brands that meet the moment
To save the planet, it’ll take more than any one person or organization. It’ll take collective action, coordination across the academy, nonprofits, government, and industry. In our 20 year history, we’re proud of the role we’ve played in accelerating the impact of the organizations on the front lines of the climate crisis.
If you’re interested in learning more about how Constructive can partner with your organization to accelerate environmental solutions, get in touch with us.
