It's 2:00 AM and I'm still tweaking the logo placement on our new website. The house is quiet except for the hum of my computer and the occasional creaking of the old floorboards. After five years with the same brand identity, I'm both excited and a little nervous about what we're about to launch. As a designer who's spent over 15 years creating visual stories, I know that every rebrand is more than just colors and fonts—it's about evolution and intention.
When Your Outside Finally Matches Your Inside
Since starting Hyphens and Spaces in 2019, we've navigated a world that has changed in ways none of us could have predicted. We've seen organizations embrace DEI work, then question it, then recognize they can't move forward without it. Through all these cycles, our team has been doing the work, learning, growing, and honestly, outgrowing our original brand.
This rebrand isn't about jumping on a trend or distancing ourselves from DEI work—quite the opposite. We're doubling down on our commitment but with sharper tools, clearer language, and a visual identity that actually communicates who we've become.
The Honest Truth About Why Now
Let me be real with you. The conversations around DEI have gotten tougher. Some days it feels like we're fighting to justify work that should be self-evident in its value. I've sat in too many Zoom calls watching clients struggle to articulate why this work matters when budgets get tight.
That's exactly why we're rebranding now. Not to retreat, but to clarify. Not to soften our message, but to ensure it lands where it needs to. And YES—we are absolutely still doing DEI work. We're just packaging it in a way that speaks to the actual challenges organizations are facing right now, not the theoretical ones.
Breaking Down What We Actually Do
Our services now focus on two core areas that reflect the interconnected nature of organizational transformation:
Cultural and Team Development - We help organizations build strong, people-centered cultures through tailored strategies that foster collaboration, alignment, and sustainable growth. Our approach integrates cultural development with strategic enablement, ensuring organizations not only set meaningful goals but also have the structure and mindset shifts needed to achieve them.
Through our learning and development programs, we create space for employees and leaders to bring their authentic selves into the work, encouraging self-expression and meaningful dialogue. Our offerings include custom workshops, team retreats, and coaching sessions designed to strengthen relationships and improve communication.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging - We provide expert advisory and coaching services to help embed DEIB into leadership, culture, and operational strategies. Our approach includes:
The DEI Accelerator: A comprehensive learning program featuring video lessons, core trainings, workbooks, monthly live practice sessions, and strategic advising from our principal consultants.
Practice Spaces: Structured sessions where teams engage in DEI-focused discussions with confidence and empathy, addressing workplace challenges related to bias, microaggressions, and belonging.
Coaching: Personalized guidance for leaders and teams to integrate inclusive principles into daily operations and decision-making.
Policy and Process Improvement: Helping organizations align with international standards like ISO 30415:2021, ensuring DEIB principles are embedded into organizational frameworks.
No more confusing menu of services. Just clear, focused pathways designed to meet you exactly where you are in your journey.
The Design Nerd Speaks: About Our Visual Rebrand
I could talk about color theory and typography all day (seriously, don't get me started), but here's what you need to know about our new look: it's intentional down to the pixel.
Our previous brand served us well, but it was created when we were primarily focused on customization. Now, we're simplifying our services so it's clearer and easier for our clients to know exactly what they're getting and the cost associated with each service. We have grown in so many ways, and our visual identity needed to reflect that growth. As any good designer knows, sometimes simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.
The new color palette balances warmth with precision. The typography communicates both authority and accessibility. We kept our original logo—it's stood the test of time and continues to represent who we are at our core. While everything else around it has evolved, this constant reminds us that some foundations are worth preserving even as we grow and change.
What We've Learned From This Process
Honestly? Rebranding ourselves has been harder than any client project I've ever tackled. It's forced us to practice what we preach about evolution and clarity.
We've had to let go of elements that no longer serve us. We've had to get comfortable with change. We've had to trust that our community will come along with us on this journey.
Most importantly, we've learned that evolution isn't betrayal—it's growth. Every design choice, every word on our new site, every restructured service offering is about becoming more authentically who we've always been at our core.
Let's Talk About Your Evolution
I'd love to hear what's happening in your world. Are you facing your own reinvention challenges? Struggling to communicate your value in this climate? Wondering how to make DEI work stick when everything else feels unstable?
Since this is our first blog post on our newly rebranded website, I encourage you to click around and check out what's new! Take some time to explore our updated "What We Do" page at www.hyphensandspaces.com to get a better understanding of our refreshed service offerings.
Our new website makes connecting easier, but I'm still a big believer in actual conversation. Schedule a discovery call with us here, and let's talk about where you are and where you're trying to go.
In my 15+ years working across corporate, nonprofit, healthcare, and publishing spaces, I've learned that the most meaningful transformations rarely happen overnight. They're thoughtful evolutions—intentional shifts that honor where you've been while creating space for where you're going.
That's what this rebrand represents for us. And we're just getting started.
With creativity, purpose, and love.
Got thoughts on our new look?
I’d genuinely love to hear them. Designers thrive on thoughtful feedback (the constructive kind, please!). Feel free to share your impressions through this short TypeForm survey.
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