Need's 'suffragette-inspired' identity for Rise, a charity that helps to empower refugee women in Scotland

As well as improving opportunities for women who are at risk of being left behind, the team at Rise brings a cultural melting pot of food to the people of Scotland – sharing recipes and dishes from across the globe at events, cafes and their very own supper clubs.

In 2020, Glasgow studio Need helped to shine a spotlight on Rise's presence and public perception thanks to an updated brand, tone of voice, website and range of digital assets.

Collaborating with founder Helen Russell, Need avoided the trap of taking a soft approach to social enterprise and instead took inspiration from suffragette activism signage and the idea of community – "showing up, and lifting up".

This ethos informed the project's creative direction – from a call to arms that centres around equipping, enabling and empowering, to a bold typeface based on protest posters from the suffragette movement. Paired with a bright and unapologetic palette, the brand has a sense of strength, a feeling of flavour and a touch of playfulness.

As a result of Need's work for Rise, the enterprise received over £35,000 of funding, social media engagement and website traffic tripled and lots of positive feedback from the community. "When choosing our charity partner for the year, there was absolutely no way we couldn't select Rise," says Laura Thomson, founder of Need.

"The passion Helen has is second to none, she's one of the most hard-working, caring, inspiring women I've had the pleasure of meeting. There's no doubt Rise will continue to go from strength to strength, positively impacting the lives of many more refugee women. What a pleasure it's been to play a very small role in that journey."