Environmental Defence Society

The Why

Environmental Defence Society (EDS) approached us looking for support to bring more structure and impact to their communications — both on social media and their website. As a small but high-impact organisation working on environmental policy and advocacy, they needed tools that were easy for their team to use, while staying true to their established, vibrant brand.

The goal was twofold: create a clear visual system for their social media presence, and refresh parts of their website to make it easier to share resources, add new content, and guide visitors through their wealth of information.

The How

Working closely with EDS, we developed a suite of Canva social templates that reflected their brand guidelines and communication pillars — giving their team the flexibility to create polished, consistent content in-house. Each template was designed to feel cohesive and purposeful, while still leaving space for the EDS voice to come through.

At the same time, we explored ways to introduce more movement and usability to their website. I refined page layouts, suggested improvements to the filtering system, and designed new components to make it simpler for users to find resources and for the EDS team to keep their content up to date. Throughout the process, I collaborated with their web developer to ensure the designs were implemented as envisioned, maintaining both usability and aesthetic integrity.

A few months after they started using the new system for socials, we checked in with the EDS team to review how the templates and design tools were performing. This follow-up stage allowed us to fine-tune the details, ensuring everything genuinely supported their day-to-day communications.

As our collaboration grew, our work together extended into developing a dedicated brand for the annual EDS Conference. The conference identity builds on their existing branding but introduces a refreshed colour palette to set it apart, bringing energy and distinction to their flagship event. This work also included a redesign of the conference prospectus, aligning it with the updated visual direction and making it easier for sponsors and partners to engage.

The Wow

EDS now has a more cohesive, professional, and easy-to-manage digital presence — from their social channels to their website. Their internal team can confidently create and share content that looks on-brand, clear, and engaging, helping them focus on what matters most: protecting and restoring Aotearoa’s environment.