A young graduate wearing a green cap smiles against an abstract collage of colorful shapes and textures, including orange, yellow-green, and purple graphics on a dark teal background
A young graduate wearing a green cap smiles against an abstract collage of colorful shapes and textures, including orange, yellow-green, and purple graphics on a dark teal background

Meyer Memorial Trust is Oregon's leading philanthropic voice for equity and social justice. 

In 1978, Fred Meyer, an entrepreneur that started out with a coffee cart and grew into a chain of supermarts in his own name, died and left substantial shares of his company to establish a trust with few mandates: “Realizing as I do the uncertainties of the future, I want my trustees to be able to exercise broad discretion in shaping and carrying out charitable programs which can be tailored to fit changing conditions and problems.” Meyer Memorial Trust was formed to support change across Oregon. During the early 2000’s, Meyer’s leadership began moving toward an equity and racial justice framework, taking a bold step forward to change philanthropy. Since the pandemic of 2020, Meyer has emboldened and sharpened its focus on justice. The new brand needed to reflect its powerful commitment to impact and community, a deep respect for Oregon's interconnection, and an optimistic vision for collective well-being.

Discovering voice through dialogue

Bridging vision and expression

The existing brand, which had come to feel too traditional and reserved, didn't capture the dynamic, community-centered catalyst the organization had become. We needed to create a brand strategy and platform that honors Meyer's legacy while embracing their evolution: one that feels accessible to rural farmers and urban organizers alike, that celebrates Oregon's diversity while maintaining professional credibility with institutional partners. 

The process: co-creation as discovery and strategy

Audiences


True transformation requires vulnerability. We worked closely with Meyer’s team to understand the audiences and where their current brand wasn’t speaking to them effectively. We facilitated deep listening sessions to get under the surface and reveal all of the layers of Meyer's authentic identity.


Brand personality


What emerged wasn't a reinvention, but a needed evolution. Three personality drivers crystallized: The Community Catalyst (energetic, unifying, passionate), The Thoughtful Collaborator (warm, transparent, trustworthy), and The Optimistic Innovator (curious, dynamic, future-forward). Each of these are true and vital to Meyer’s identity. 
Colorful chart showing Meyer’s key audience segments
Chart showing Meyer’s three personality drivers: The Community Catalyst, The Thoughtful Collaborator, and The Optimistic Innovator

Through this process, we helped Meyer's team align around new brand positioning, messaging, and visual identity for the first time in a decade.
Group of Meyer Memorial Trust staff and partners smiling in front of a colorful mural that reads “Black Futures.”

Smith & Connors has been a trusted, strategic partner to Meyer for over a decade. They guided us in launching a new brand, website, and suite of materials that sharpen our story and strengthen our ability to achieve our goals. Their thoughtful approach and deep expertise consistently turn vision into tangible results.
Toya Fick headshot image

A living brand ecosystem

The new identity system celebrates Oregon's natural diversity while embracing bold, contemporary expression. A vibrant color palette draws from the state's landscapes, creating accessible combinations that work across digital and print applications.

The brand mark itself suggests movement and momentum: a dynamic form that evokes Oregon's rivers, valleys, and forward progress. 

Typography balances approachability with authority. Recife Text brings warmth to headlines while Sprig Sans ensures clarity in complex grant documentation. Together, they create a voice that's both welcoming and credible.
Overview of Meyer Memorial Trust’s brand guidelines showing pages on logo use, color palette, typography, photography, and brand expression

Activating the brand

Comprehensive brand guidelines provide more than a visual rulebook: they are a strategic tool for organizational alignment. The brand system is flexible enough to grow, with a textural collage expression toolkit that allows for community-specific storytelling while maintaining cohesion. Photography guidelines ensure diverse representation. Color harmonies balance vibrancy with accessibility compliance. The result is a brand that can flex from corporate investment reports to grassroots community celebrations.
Person wearing a maroon Meyer Memorial Trust shirt holds freshly harvested greens in a garden
Tote bag cycling through different colors
Meyer Memorial Trust investment report with cover and open spread showing charts and nature photography
Collection of colorful Meyer Memorial Trust report covers displayed on a blue background.
Three colorful Meyer Memorial Trust grant guides.
Meyer Memorial Trust stationery set with letterhead, envelope, and business cards on a teal background.

A new digital home

Meyer’s new modular Wordpress website is where the brand really shines. We designed and built a flexible system for the site that allows the communications team to use a variety of content components that all work together without compromising visual or storytelling coherence. Wherever visitors land or explore, they consistently encounter the breadth of Meyer's reach. Every interaction reinforces Meyer's positioning as an accessible, forward-thinking partner in community transformation.

Smith & Connors is not only incredibly talented but also a true joy to work with. Their process is fantastic: they help us navigate different perspectives, offer smart recommendations and solve problems creatively. Most importantly, they always deliver. We trust them. We love them. We wholeheartedly recommend them.
Headshot Helen Shum

Project Scope

  • Brand Guidelines
  • Brand Strategy & Messaging
  • Core Messaging
  • Logo Design
  • Print & Collateral Design
  • Visual Identity Systems
  • Change Management
  • Staff Engagement
  • Workshops & Focus Groups
  • Communications Strategy
  • Email Newsletters
  • Marketing Assets
  • Motion Graphics
  • Photography Direction
  • Presentations & Pitch Decks
  • Social Media
  • Content Strategy
  • Documentation
  • SEO Strategy & Optimization
  • Web Design & Development
Screenshot of the heading of a Quantum Future article on the Berkeley Lab website.