Stämpfli Kommunikation realizes rebranding for the SFV

The brand world and the corporate design manual of the Swiss Fire Brigade Association SFV lacked unity and clarity in the initial situation. Over the last 150 years, the association's brand had lost its form and clarity due to various interpretations of its use.

Following an in-depth analysis of the brand and a design study, the values were sharpened and the graphic basis for the revised corporate design manual was created: with a new logo, new font, illustrations, color and imagery. In addition, the "Swissfire" association label was stylistically adapted and an application concept defined. This was followed by the adaptation of business stationery and information documents as well as the design of new merchandise items. At the same time, the trilingual website Swissfire.ch newly conceived and designed.

Stämpfli Kommunikation was responsible for the design concept and orchestrated the entire project, including all graphic services and image processing.

"The initial situation was unusual for Stämpfli Kommunikation; the usual project schedule could not be adhered to due to the urgency. On the one hand, the corporate design manual had to be developed and, on the other, the website had to be designed. The task was not an easy one, but the Stämpfli team implemented it flawlessly," says Hanan Estelle Bouâllègue, project manager for marketing and association communications at SFV.

"The challenge was to translate the contrast between the official appearance of the fire department association and the often heroic world of the fire department into a contemporary design language. The primary colors red and dark blue were derived from the colors of fire protection vehicles and work uniforms and combined to form a diagonal stripe pattern, as is familiar from warning tapes, fire engines or firefighters' equipment, for example. The design is simple and memorable and strengthens the emotional connection to the target group," adds Rahel Grünig, Head of Design Strategy at Stämpfli Kommunikation.

Responsible at the Swiss Fire Brigade Association: Thomas Widmer (Director) and Hanan Estelle Bouâllègue (Project Manager Marketing and Association Communications). Responsible at Stämpfli Kommunikation: Rahel Grünig (Head of Design Strategy), Christoph Tim Schneider (UX Designer), Claudia Fahrni (Project Manager) and Anna Henkel (Designer).