Vermont College of Fine Arts

Communicating a new model in graduate arts education

With its novel academic structure—high-intensity, on-campus residencies paired with closely-mentored work in between—the school helps mid-career writers, designers, visual artists, and musicians to re-focus on their goals and work, and helps them move their careers forward.

Through our comprehensive branding project, we helped to define storylines and messages, and have developed a distinctive visual language that then informed a wide array of new print / digital / and environmental communications, including an “umbrella” viewbook used in tandem with program-specific collateral.

VCFA’s new website provides a meaningful look across the institution. A generous approach to imagery enables previously silo’d programs to retain their unique flavor while coming together to create a meaningful whole—one that supports VCFA’s position as the leading national center for graduate arts education. A non-traditional approach to a “homepage carousel” showcases an ever-changing mosaic of activity. Spotlights, news stories, and a variety of social media feeds keep the site fresh (the social media work earned a CASE Excellence award). And robust work galleries elevate the efforts of students and faculty in ways not previously possible.

The fastest-growing school in Vermont, VCFA is increasingly gaining in national and international visibility for graduate education in the arts. The brand work by Sametz Blackstone is a critical element in that growth.

The rebranding included an overhaul of the institution’s identity, recruitment materials, campus signage, and website. Our site now puts us in conversation with well-established and respected programs at the national level while it dynamically reflects the outstanding quality of our programs. The year-over-year stats continue to be impressive.

Prospective students now see a place that is art and only art, and students who look like they do, and faculty they aspire to be. The brand both projects newness and solidity, flexibility and high quality. We aspire to be the top graduate arts college in the country. The brand foundation is there.

Matthew Monk, Academic Dean, Vermont College of Fine Arts

A visual mark that is both a frame and a portal

Vermont College of Fine Arts logo

Visual and verbal brand guidelines

Visual brand guidelines spread
Visual brand guidelines spread
Visual brand guidelines spread
Visual brand guidelines spread

Viewbook

Viewbook spread
Viewbook spread: What we offer
Viewbook spread: Yourself, here
Viewbook spread: Educational model
Viewbook spread: program page
Viewbook spread: Admissions & Financial Aid

The brand both projects newness and solidity, flexibility and high quality. We aspire to be the top graduate arts college in the country. The brand foundation is there.

MATTHEW MONK, ACADEMIC DEAN, VERMONT COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS

Program brochures

Website

Vermont College of Fine Arts homepage
MFA in Writing & Publishing interior page
MFA in Visual Art interior page
Three views of responsive Vermont College of Fine Arts website on iPhone

Recruitment posters

Master of Fine Arts in Film poster
MFA in Music Composition poster

Alumni magazine

Vermont College of Fine Arts In Residence magazine
Vermont College of Fine Arts In Residence magazine

VCFA campaign microsite

Vermont College of Fine Arts campaign homepage
Vermont College of Fine Arts campaign homepage with navigation exposed
Vermont College of Fine Arts campaign homepage on mobile

Email marketing campaign

Email campaign spread