Across the United States, local partnerships are helping children, families, and communities thrive. These collaborations bring together schools, nonprofits, government agencies, employers, and community organizations to tackle complex problems and expand pathways to economic opportunity.
While these partnerships do incredible work in their communities, they often struggle to access the technical infrastructure and expertise to effectively measure and communicate their impact, direct resources toward the highest-impact programs, and scale strategies that work.
iF worked with data and technical leaders from the place-based ecosystem to help Measure Well develop the strategy, brand direction, visual identity, and program offerings for a new national entity that is designed to address those exact gaps. The goal was to create a system designed to support data and technical leaders working in place-based organizations solving local challenges using data, technology, and AI more effectively.
Rather than approaching the work as solely a branding exercise, iF assembled a multidisciplinary team spanning strategy, messaging, brand, and design.
We worked alongside the client team to define not only how the initiative would look and operate, but also how it would position itself within a growing ecosystem of organizations working to advance economic mobility and support the use of data and AI. The goal was a strategic foundation that could guide future programs, partnerships, and community engagement.
Out of this work, an ambitious platform was born: Measure Well. Many organizations operating in the technology and data space communicate through technical jargon. When we developed the Measure Well brand and strategy one of the core objectives was that Measure Well remains approachable to community partners who may not see themselves as technology experts. Through workshops, ecosystem analysis, and creative exploration, we aligned on three brand qualities that would shape not just Measure Well’s visual identify but also its positioning, mission, and offerings:
The team explored a range of visual territories, from highly technical and analytical directions to concepts centered on community, storytelling, and human connection. Through iterative feedback and refinement, a clear direction emerged. The final identity uses vibrant colors, approachable illustrations, and playful visual references to data and measurement.
While the brand identity was forming, so was the strategy. We intentionally worked on the branding and strategy in tandem to ensure that they both authentically reflected each other. We explored strategic questions such as:
These conversations ultimately informed both the organization's strategic direction and the public-facing brand that would support it.
To operationalize this plan, we developed strategic pillars with individualized programs that mapped directly to each pillar, closely collaborating with the client. Additionally, we created detailed, line-by-line operating budgets for each pillar, clearly demonstrating how each program would be brought to life. The resulting strategy created a foundation for future programs, resources, and partnerships while giving the organization a consistent and recognizable voice.
Measure Well officially launched in summer of 2026 with a mission to help place-based partnerships and cradle-to-career leaders use data, technology, and AI to strengthen decision-making and advance economic mobility. As the organization grows, it aims to provide practical tools, peer learning opportunities, and new approaches that help communities move from information to action.
This project exemplified the power of joining multiple disciplines together around a shared challenge. By combining strategy, brand development, and design into a single streamlined process, we helped bring an emerging idea to life with a clear purpose, a compelling visual identity, and a foundation for long-term impact.
Check out the work on measurewell.org and consider getting involved if you are a data or technical leader, service provider, or partner working in this space.