Launch Recite Me assistive technology
Three brochures for Sister Circle are laid out against a bright orange background. They feature bold, abstract geometric shapes in shades of red, orange and purple, alongside the text “Supporting Women’s Health”.

Droga5 rebrands the charity Sister Circle, highlighting the year-round work it does for women

The identity uses a soothing palette to suggest a safe, supportive space – a “100 per cent accurate” representation of the charity, says Droga5.

—
Date
8 March 2023

Share

Sister Circle has been working in Tower Hamlets, London since 1981. A charity that empowers women from diverse communities in East London to access better healthcare; its services include support for new mothers, survivors of female genital cutting (FGC) and for those escaping domestic abuse or trafficking. Sister Circle has been doing this work for decades and continues “at a time when proper support for women’s health – and health support for women of colour, especially – has never been more sorely needed,” a release identifies. Droga5 London’s new identity for the charity hopes to bolster this work as much as possible.

The project comprises a new identity, launch campaign, website from Wellcom, and a name change – the charity was previously Women’s Health & Family Services (WHFS). Open and trustworthy are two words that come to mind looking over the new identity. According to Droga5, the work is designed to celebrate the “strength in numbers”, the power of a support network, and “the diverse women who make up the Sister Circle community”.

Geometric shapes are a key feature. Droga5 balances angular edges with circles; often literally, with forms supporting each other and coming together to create new abstract structures or silhouettes of people. Typography and tone of voice is simple and direct, while a warm palette, spanning peach, scarlet and coral, is meant to represent the supportive, inclusive environment that the charity has created through its community. “I can confirm, after spending so much time with Sister Circle, that this representation is 100 per cent accurate,” says Stephanie McArdle, head of design at Droga5 London. “We threw everything we could at helping them do this important, meaningful work.”

The rebrand launches with a new outdoor and social campaign, demonstrating the issues the charity works to solve and its impact on people’s lives. Droga5 hopes that the new work will increase awareness of Sister Circle and, in the process, boost the donations on which its work depends.

“The current state of women’s health in the UK reminds us that Sister Circle’s work is more important than ever. At a time when brands flock to superficially champion women for just one day, the ongoing work that Sister Circle does is a powerful contrast to that,” says Shelley Smoler, chief creative officer at Droga5 London. Supporters of Sister Circle can learn more about the charity and make a donation here.

GalleryDroga5 London: Sister Circle (Copyright © Sister Circle / Droga5 London, 2023)

A wide billboard against a brick wall features two colourful posters for Sister Circle. The first in orange asks “Would you get screened if you were afraid of being seen?” and the second in purple asks “What do thousands of pregnant women crave? Support.” Both posters feature a stylised, abstract figure composed of rounded shapes.
A person uses a laptop to view the website for the charity Sister Circle. The screen shows a pink page with a portrait of a person wearing a hijab and the text “We are a charity putting women’s health first.”
A tri-fold brochure for Sister Circle titled “Become a Maternity Mate”. The panels feature a bright colour palette of pink, purple and orange, with a photo of a person holding a baby.
Three Instagram posts for “Sister Circle” are displayed side by side. The first shows a smiling person with the text “Welcome Anna”, the second is an orange graphic reading “Volunteers needed”, and the third shows a person holding a sleeping child.
An orange billboard against a concrete wall reads “Women’s health deserves more than a passing glance.” The Sister Circle logo appears in the bottom right corner.
An orange tote bag features a large, abstract purple figure made of geometric shapes. A small pink tag on the side reads “Sister Circle”.
A smartphone rests on a woven wicker surface, displaying an Instagram profile for “Sister Circle”. The bio reads, “We empower women in East London to access better healthcare.” Below the profile details, a grid of images shows people embracing and smiling, interspersed with red graphic tiles that read “Recruiting now” and “Volunteers needed”.

Hero Header

Droga5 London: Sister Circle (Copyright © Sister Circle / Droga5 London, 2023)

Share Article

About the Author

Liz Gorny

—

Liz (she/they) is the senior editor at Insights, a research-driven department within It’s Nice That. They previously ran the news section of the website. Get in contact with them for potential Insights collaborations or to discuss Insights’ public-facing reports.

It's Nice That Newsletters

Fancy a bit of It's Nice That in your inbox? Sign up to our newsletters and we'll keep you in the loop with everything good going on in the creative world.