Discover what matters.

Severn School believes there are many ways to lead and that every student has the potential to be exceptional. As one of the premier college preparatory schools in the region, this ambitious institution is all too capable of delivering on that promise for its nearly 1,000 enrolled students spanning preschool through twelfth grade. Severn approached us seeking creative support on an array of in-flight marketing initiatives and design resources. So we hit the ground running in order to align with a fast-moving strategy. The challenge? Meeting tight time frames and complex deliverables head-on, elevating the existing brand in fresh ways, and leveraging intentional messaging choices to reconnect with core audiences.

The Admissions Experience

The Severn admission experience is designed to be as informative and engaging as possible—for each child, family, and the Severn team. So the organization set out to activate the feeling of being a Severn Admiral through each and every facet of the recruitment process. From digital and print ads to open house materials like posters, postcards, and beyond, no touchpoint went unconsidered as we worked together to enhance and elevate the experience from start to finish. The results were highly effective, as we gleaned from the client that the organization experienced a 67% year-over-year increase in upper school open house attendance and a 220% increase for the lower school.

The work is exceptional. We have been able to give Contrast a high-level vision and explain our challenges and opportunities. They have done a remarkable job of absorbing that and presenting us with striking design that is helping us to become leaders in the way we present ourselves.

Director of Communications, Severn School

The Magazine

The Bridge is Severn School's magazine for Severn alumni, parents, and friends. When it came time to give this valued publication a facelift, we knew we wanted to reinvent the presentation while maintaining its place as a long-standing resource. So we injected new life through enhancements of the existing visual experience, taking inspiration from like-minded publications in order to reflect the prestige and sophistication of the school’s educational experience. From there, we introduced thematic content threads to unify the narrative, not only as a means to guide the wide range of audiences but as a scalable foundational framework for future editions to come.

The Supporting Materials

Education at Severn reaches far beyond what you know. It's about envisioning the impact you can make on the world. We’ve held this philosophy close through every resource and support element provided over the course of our partnership, focusing on tangible impact across every channel we encounter. This outlook has taken us from the community directory, wherein we cataloged the entire student body and faculty in a printed directory in record time, to detail-oriented touchpoints like video production and event consulting to optimize the institution’s busy admissions season. And ultimately, we’re just getting started. Because even more essential than a foundational kit of parts is the power they have to propel an organization forward. We look forward to playing a part in that continued momentum for years to come.

67%

Boost in YoY Upper School Open House Attendance

220% Increase

Boost YoY Lower School Open House Attendance