Creating a brand identity to empower recovery through meaningful activity

  • What we did:
  • Brand Strategy & Identity
  • Employer Brand & Internal Communications

Client:
The Occupation Matters Programme (OMP) is a pioneering occupational therapy programme developed by Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. The programme supports individuals experiencing significant mental health challenges by helping them rebuild routine, purpose and confidence through meaningful everyday activity.

Designed as a structured 20-week programme, OMP equips participants with practical tools to rediscover independence, reconnect with their communities and improve their wellbeing.

Challenge:
Despite its proven success and powerful impact on participants’ lives, the Occupation Matters Programme lacked a clear and cohesive identity.

The programme needed a brand capable of communicating its purpose to multiple audiences — from occupational therapists and NHS stakeholders to potential participants — while remaining sensitive to the realities of mental health recovery.

The challenge was to create a brand that felt human, hopeful and accessible, while maintaining the credibility and clarity required within a clinical NHS environment.

Solution:
We developed a vibrant, optimistic identity system designed to reflect the core philosophy of the programme that recovery is built through meaningful activity and small, consistent steps forward.

At the heart of the visual language is a series of textured, organic shapes representing different occupations and experiences that form the building blocks of everyday life. These shapes symbolise progress, individuality and the many paths people take on their journey towards recovery.

A bold yet approachable colour palette was introduced to inject warmth and energy, ensuring the programme feels supportive and empowering rather than clinical.

The identity was designed as a flexible communications toolkit capable of supporting a wide range of materials — from programme literature and participant guides to awareness campaigns and social media.

Deliverables included: programme brand identity, visual language and graphic system, campaign assets, programme literature, social media content and presentation materials.

Results:
The new identity provides the Occupation Matters Programme with a distinctive and cohesive brand that reflects its transformative impact.

The brand now helps therapists communicate the programme more clearly, engage participants more effectively and support wider adoption across NHS services.

By celebrating activity, progress and possibility, the new identity reinforces the programme’s fundamental message: Meaningful occupation can change lives.