Southern Gulf Islands Food Bank

šŸ•ŠļøOverview

The Mayne Island Food Bank sought assistance to update its visual identity and website design. As the lead designer and project manager, I oversaw the redesign process, managed the design team, and communicated with the client at every step to ensure alignment with their values and community-driven mission. The goal was to develop a refreshed, inclusive brand that would better represent the food bankā€™s evolving presence and make their services more accessible to those in need.

Role

Project Manager

Tools

Adobe Illustrator, Figma, Adobe Aftereffect, Adobe Photoshop, HTML/CSS/JS

Scope

Group project ā€” research, ideation, design, and coding

šŸ§  Understanding the Problem

The Mayne Island Food Bank had been serving its local community for years, but its visual identity and website no longer reflected its evolving mission or audience. The original branding felt outdated and lacked emotional warmth, while the website was difficult to navigate, especially for older users or volunteers unfamiliar with digital platforms.

Our team was brought in to solve several interconnected problems:



We needed to create a cohesive brand identity and user-friendly website that felt as compassionate and trustworthy as the food bank itself, while being easy for a small volunteer team to maintain over time.

The project vision

  • Refresh the brand identity to be more welcoming, modern, and community-focused.
  • Redesign the website to be user-friendly, informative, and easy to update by volunteers.
  • Improve visual accessibility for users of all ages and backgrounds.
  • Support local connection with imagery and messaging that reflect Mayne Islandā€™s unique character.

    • šŸ” Research

    šŸŒ Competitive & Contextual Research

    I analyzed several small town and rural food bank websites across Canada, with a focus on:


  • How they organize essential information (hours, donation info, volunteering, etc.).
  • Their visual brandingā€”logos, colors, typography.
  • Accessibility and ease of navigation.

    • Key findings:


  • Many had outdated or non-responsive websites.
  • Critical information was often buried in long paragraphs.
  • Visual identities lacked consistency and emotional resonance.

    • šŸ‘„ Stakeholder Discussions

    I worked closely with the client and internal design team to identify core values and constraints:


  • Client priorities: clarity, warmth, and ease of use.
  • Constraints: limited budget, limited tech knowledge from site maintainers, and volunteer-based upkeep.

    • šŸ§‘ā€šŸŽ¤Persona

    Persona: Margaret T.

    "I just want to know when and where I can pick up food and I don't want to get lost in a confusing website."

  • Age: 68
  • Occupation: Retired nurse
  • Tech Comfort Level: Low
  • Device Used: Android phone (small screen), occasionally public computers
  • Internet Access: Moderate (spotty or shared Wi-Fi)

    • Goals:

  • Quickly find out food distribution times and locations
  • Easily understand what services are available
  • Feel that the organization is welcoming and trustworthy
  • Stay informed through print and social channels

    • Frustrations:

  • Small or cluttered text
  • Overwhelming visuals or dropdown-heavy navigation
  • Sites that assume high-speed internet or tech-savviness
  • Feeling disconnected from the brand (cold, impersonal design)

    • Persona 2: Jordan M.

    "I want to support local causes, but only if they feel transparent, active, and real."

  • Age: 31
  • Occupation: Freelance web developer & community volunteer
  • Tech Comfort Level: High
  • Device Used: Laptop + smartphone
  • Engagement Style: Follows local causes on Instagram, prefers modern websites

    • Goals:

  • Learn more about the mission before donating or volunteering
  • Share posts and initiatives with friends on social media
  • See clear, consistent branding and updates
  • Trust that the organization is active and community-centered

    • Frustrations:

  • Outdated or unresponsive websites
  • Lack of clear donation/volunteer info
  • Non-engaging or inconsistent social media presence
  • Unclear branding or mission statement

    • šŸŽØ Visual Design & UI

    We maintained a balance of warmth and clarity to reflect the Food Bankā€™s dual mission of support and reliability.


  • Created a new logo inspired by community, nourishment, and island elements.
  • Developed a color palette with soft, organic tones to create a calming and trustworthy feel.
  • Chose accessible typefaces that are both readable and inviting.

    • Logos

    Colors

    Icons

    Social Media

    Deliverable

    The rebranding effort significantly contributed to the development of Mayne Island's brand identity, imbuing it with a fresh, modern, and minimalist aesthetic.