Accompanying the work OtherWisz Creative has been doing for Literacy New York Buffalo-Niagara, the non-profit literacy education organization has featured our work in their online newsletter, The Lit Connection.
Read the full newsletter here.
The OtherWisz Creative Team, left to right: Allison Kollander, Jill Wisz, Mark Wisz, Athena Kolokotronis, Jimmy Scamacca, Angela Marini
Corporation with a Conscience Lends a Hand
OtherWisz Creative Corporation leads the LNYBN website redesign and brand audit projects
Founded in 2000, OtherWisz Creative Corporation is a multidisciplinary design studio that specializes in brand identity design, website design development, marketing services, and exhibit design. Led by owners Mark and Jill Wisz, philanthropy is one of the team’s guiding values.
“As a professional service provider, you should dedicate a portion of what you do to help not-for-profits because they can’t always afford what we offer,” says Mark.
A former board member and supporter for over 15 years, Mark and the rest of the team have provided valuable time and services over the years to various companies and community organizations.
Angela Marini, Junior Designer, Mark Wisz, Owner / Art Director & Production Manager, and George Bailey, Free Spirit
Past projects for Literacy New York Buffalo-Niagara include logos, website design, and promotional materials for fundraising events. Over the years, OtherWisz explored ways to present the experience of illiteracy while successfully communicating a message. The 2018 design for A Toast to Literacy was able to capture this through creative use of an altered typeface.
Buffalo has the fourth-worst poverty rate for families in the United States. The team at OtherWisz understands the powerful relationship between poverty and literacy.
“The power to read can really change people’s lives. There are other things that are important. Housing. Wellness and health. Literacy seems to be at the center of a lot of those things,” says Mark.
The Literacy New York Buffalo-Niagara 2019-2021 strategic plan identified the need for better branding and effective marketing. With its first-ever website still in use, LNYBN board and staff knew it was time for a change. An updated identity for the organization will give more visibility to better reach those who need to improve their reading or learn English. Leading the efforts in the creation of the new website and the brand audit is Athena Kolokotronis, Senior Designer. The OtherWisz team has consistently exceeded expectations and LNYBN expects some exciting changes in the next few months.
Athena Kolokotronis, Senior Designer
“You have a wide variety of comprehension levels between students and tutors and employees and it’s going to be a challenge that you don’t normally have in a brand audit,” says Jill.
Reaching people with limited reading abilities and English proficiency poses branding and marketing challenges, but the longstanding history with OtherWisz makes them uniquely suited for the challenge. With their 20th anniversary around the corner, OtherWisz has been diligent in offering skills based services and working with LNYBN to determine what could be helpful.
Jill Wisz, Owner / Creative Director & Brand Strategist
“We’re trying to help the organization grow and stay on track. You can concentrate on doing what you do and we’ll help by doing what we do,” says Mark.
Volunteers have always been a cornerstone to Literacy New York Buffalo-Niagara. The time, skills, efforts, and donations that are contributed make a significant impact. LNYBN aims to raise its community profile to make its services more accessible in Erie and Niagara Counties.
Click here to read the full newsletter by Literacy New York Buffalo-Niagara.
