services

Fractional Creative Director

Dawn Sword has over 25 years of experience helping cause-driven clients develop their brands into powerful assets that drive growth.

Over the years, she’s noticed clients have a wide variety of brand management needs that closely relate to their stage of development and size. They may have a junior designer to handle day-to-day production, but often no senior level design leadership to ensure a cohesive, high-level brand systems approach. They may not need a full-time senior level creative director but would benefit immensely from part-time support. To bridge this gap, Dawn offers fractional creative director engagements.

This model gives clients flexible access to high-level creative direction and design services on an ongoing, part-time retainer basis. It’s ideal for clients who want steady, tailored access to her senior-level creative expertise without the cost or commitment of a full-time hire. A convenient retainer arrangement helps keep costs predictable while allowing flexibility for additional projects if needed.

As your fractional creative director, Dawn gets behind your mission and blends with your team to:
  • analyze your current brand strategy, assets and initiatives in the context of your organization’s goals and developmental stage
  • uncover opportunities for your brand to promote your growth and impact
  • create, maintain and develop consistent branding across departments and channels
  • collaborate with communications, fundraising and development teams to create stronger, more engaging outreach
  • support your organization’s leadership and teams with strategic brand management and design services
  • lead and deliver key design and web project deliverables
  • mentor staff as desired on best practices and brand management topics
  • make sure creative decisions advance your organization toward its goals

Holistic Support

At first, some clients don’t think they have enough of a need for this role. However, we know from experience most clients have diverse needs and unique opportunities. Dawn’s work intersects with and contributes to increased impact across the organization in areas such as:

  • Development and fundraising
  • Sponsorships, giving circles and member relations
  • Communications and marketing
  • Preparing for or responding to organizational change
  • Senior leadership support (e.g. customized support for presentations and key meetings)
  • Publications and collateral
  • Website support
  • Day-to-day staff support and mentoring
  • Developing and maintaining internal brand tools and systems

Optional Website Services

Dawn and her team continue to provide hands-on WordPress website design, development and maintenance services. Clients gain the most benefit from her integrated approach when combining a fractional creative director engagement with website support and maintenance services.