Marching for inclusion.

Project

Pride Month Graphics

Company

Dow Chemical

Dow Chemical was the first company in the chemical industry to establish an LGBTQ+ employee resource group. It is only one of three Fortune 500 companies with an openly gay CEO. And they have scored 100% on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index since 2004. Diversity and inclusion is a way of life at Dow; they know that to have the best employees, they need to create the best environment for them.

In 2018, Dow’s LGBTQ ERG, “Dow GLAD”, reached out for a branded pride banner that local chapters around the world could use at their own, local parades.

Pride Month Banners

The original idea the ERG had was a little bland and lacked a meaningful message. I asked if I could propose another idea instead. I suggested a new design and message that had a lil’ more pizzazz.

Pride Month Banners

It went over very well, they loved the use of the elements spelling out the messaging.

“Suzie, Awesome work! These are amazing. Really appreciate all of the time and effort. I think we might use all of these graphics throughout Pride Month. Once I loop this past a few more folks, I'll be back with some more direction on the use of the others. Thank you!!”

J.D., Communications Specialist

Throughout the month of June, the banners popped up around social media from parades all over North America - Houston, Philadelphia, New Orleans, even Mexico and Canada!

Social Media Assets

Corporate really loved the Inclusion graphic, so much so that they recreated it as a header image for all of Dow's social media accounts during the entire month of June.

Dow's Social Media Pages (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube)

Worcester Pride 2018 Ad

In the same year, the Marlborough chapter of Dow GLAD made a donation in support of their local festival, Worcester Pride, and was given space for a full-page color ad in that years Pride Guide.

Photo Credit: @WorcesterWares on Instagram

The group didn't have any clear direction for the message or the design when they contacted me. Previously that week, Dow tweeted what Jim Fitterling, Dow's openly gay CEO-elect, had said about the importance of being out at work and providing a safe space for everyone to be themselves.

I thought the message was exactly what the ad needed to say and Jim’s sentiments ran parallel to the history and existence of pride festivals in general. The fact that it was also coming from one of the only openly-gay CEOs in the world made it even more impactful.

The whole speech was a bit wordy so I parsed down the quote from the video to make it more succinct. I made a rainbow out of the lines of text, incorporating the red Dow logo as the start the "flag". Even though the use of color was subtle, the simplicity of the design made it stand out in the busy publication.

Worcester Pride 2018 Ad

The group loved the ad and they were very excited to see it in the Pride Guide. They even grabbed a pile after the event to leave at the Marlborough site for other people to see.