Y&R creates new brand identity, campaign and tagline for the US Navy

Date
11 December 2017

Y&R North America has worked with the United States Navy to create a new brand identity, creative campaign and tagline – “Forged by the Sea”. The agency was tasked with a brief to define and build awareness of the Navy’s brand, and “evolve perception of its purpose”, while also reaching Gen Z recruits and showcase its career opportunities.

Research by the agency found that while there’s nearly universal awareness of the Navy as a brand, there’s very little understanding of its actual mission, reach and influence. The campaign therefore uses impactful and dramatic film and photographic material as its basis, which Y&R says differentiates it from other military branches and companies “including the power, mystique and magic of the sea”.

This material is overlaid with bold, capitalised, eye-catching type, stating short and punchy phrases, for example “From the depths, we are forged” and “One nation, under our watch”. Others seem less aimed at recruits than at the wider American public, such as “There when you need us most” and “Ensuring liberty and justice for all”. Each features the logo and new tagline, which Y&R says is a double entendre in that the Navy itself is forged by the sea, as are its individuals.

The campaign film was launched during the Army-Navy Game on 9 December, a long-running, televised college football game.

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Y&R North America: US Navy campaign

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Y&R North America: US Navy campaign

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Y&R North America: US Navy campaign

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Y&R North America: US Navy campaign

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Jenny Brewer

Jenny oversees our editorial output across work, news and features. She was previously It’s Nice That's news editor. Get in touch with any big creative stories, tips, pitches, news and opinions, or questions about all things editorial.

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