North Shore Country Day School
Small School. Big Story.
Imagine five-year-olds learning science from a teacher with a PhD. High school classes that could easily qualify as college seminars. Children raising funds to build a school in Africa. Such extraordinary activities barely scratch the surface of what happens at North Shore Country Day School. The small JK–12 college preparatory school in north suburban Chicago attracts students from the entire area and college recruiters from more than 100 institutions of higher learning nationwide.
While this extraordinary school had always communicated well with its internal audiences, external misperceptions and stiff competition from local public and private schools were impeding recruitment. Informed by existing research, established positioning, and our own interviews and information gathering with key internal and external stakeholder groups, Grillo Group reimagined North Shore’s complete brand identity and marketing communications program.
First, we designed a new seal for the school to serve as the primary brand visual. Using the seal as a starting point, we balanced the rigor of the school’s academics with the lively and energetic atmosphere of students, faculty, and staff in action. Our work extended to refining their longstanding mascot image, developing complete brand standards, and creating a broad range of communications for marketing, recruitment, and philanthropy.
Client Success
New student inquiries increased significantly and enrollment hit an all-time high following the introduction of new branding materials.
Awards, Recognition, News
North Shore communications received a CASE (Council for the Advancement and Support of Education) Circle of Excellence Award. Viewbooks were selected for inclusion in the American Institute of Graphic Design (AIGA) Archive
