Smart, Strategic Content
From Branding Sprint to Content Groove: Storytelling for DigiBC
Brand Discovery | Design | Brand Content Kit Service | Copywriting and Editing | Press Release Development | Social Media Content and Design | Blog Content and Design | Landing Page Design and Development
How Do You Go from a Branding Sprint to Beautifully-Paced Content Delivery?
Well, you start with a great big breath and a huge high-five! A stint of initial branding work with DigiBC in early 2024 so impressed this client – also known as the Creative Technology Association of BC – that they brought us onboard for month-to-month content development and support. We’ve been with them ever since, collaboratively creating stories that support their mission of uplifting BC’s amazing homegrown video game, animation, VFX and XR sectors.
We started by delivering three lightspeed branding kits in quick succession, to help meet pressing deadlines.
As the champion for BC’s creative technology sector, DigiBC has a ton on its plate! Marketing and content often come second to the their #1 mission: tirelessly advocating for BC’s vibrant creative technology sector.
Luckily, that’s where we come in! We first got to know this crew, also known as the Creative Technology Industry Association of British Columbia, in early 2024, when they needed some quick-turnaround branding support for Signals, their hugely successful expo that showcases innovative storytelling in AI, XR, film and video games. But to go ahead with their web launch, they needed a logo, brand, landing page and high-impact social content – ASAP!
Second on their wish list was a package of branding, web copy, social content and press material about their new Work Placement Project (WPP), aimed at creating new opportunities for post-secondary students in creative tech. And last but not least, they also needed a refresh of the DigiBC brand itself; an overarching umbrella identity, plus Brand Voice & Tone guidelines for the organization as a whole.
Fortunately, we had just launched our Brand Content Kit service when DigiBC approached us, allowing us to turn around elevated branding and content in just one week to meet deadlines for the time-sensitive Signals launch.
They were so tickled, they brought us on to keep the momentum going, with monthly content development and support.
With that foundational brand work under our belts, it would be super-satisfying to turn our sweat equity into content. We were eager to get going! But we also knew it was key to get the guiding framework and target audiences juuuust right.
Together our teams workshopped a Content Roadmap that would guide upcoming months of long-form, social and newsletter stories. Story pillars would align with Digi’s guiding goals of fostering and uplifting the local creative tech community, and clearly communicating DigiBC’s value to government and other stakeholders.
We also honed in on the prime audiences that we wanted to engage, including studio heads, government decision-makers, hands-on creators and aspiring creatives.
Along the way, we’d unearth all kinds of compelling creative tech stories, from born-in-BC technologies to Indigenous XR creators breaking boundaries, and even local animation and VFX studios winning Oscars for their contributions to global blockbusters – yes! With an incredibly vibrant local talent pool and network of studios, we figured we’d never run short of stories. And yep, we were right. So far, so good!
Our first big content deliverable was a primer on DigiBC’s Signals Tech Expo, generating a ton of engagement and ticket sales, too!
For our first package, we rolled right into promoting the Signals Tech Expo, with an exciting primer on all the must-see exhibits and features. There were so many stories to tell that we were able to saturate (in a good way!) DigBC’s content channels for weeks with all things Signals – which gave their online following and engagement a much-needed boost.
When the expo arrived, we got to attend IRL and soak up all the cool things we’d been hearing about, and … wow. Our minds were blown. From an interactive AI installation on bat sonar and a brainwave-interpolating art exhibit to local startups connecting with investors… and so much more – Signals 2024 was a smashing success. Being there in person really fired our storytelling neurons.
We were captivated! And we carried that inspiration into future work, communicating Digi’s work with a deeper grasp of why it matters.
From here, we really got into a rhythm, working closely with the DigiBC team to shout their value from the rooftops. And we’ve been doing it ever since! A few recent highlights of our partnership include:
- Surfacing stories behind the WPP: We spotlighted the real-world impact of DigiBC’s talent-pipeline initiative through blog posts and social content that introduced participating employers, showcased standout student experiences, and celebrated early program wins.
- Uplifting mentorship with DigiConnect: We brought this new mentorship program to life with stories that captured the passion, purpose, and creativity of mentors and mentees building the future of BC’s tech sector together.
- Debuting an SFU AI micro-credential: In partnership with DigiBC and SFU, we helped promote this innovative new program via accessible, engaging content for students and working professionals alike.
- Putting BC on the map at Web Summit: From pre-event features to live, on-the-ground storytelling, we gave DigiBC’s presence at Vancouver’s first-ever Web Summit the visibility and energy it deserved, platforming local talent and sharing BC’s boldest ideas with the world.
By allowing Digi’s awesomeness to shine through in multi-channel stories complemented premium design, we achieved steady growth:
Why We Love Them
Getting to know some of the most outrageously inspiring people in BC’s creative tech scene – and experiencing their boundary-pushing digital creations – has been pretty special! The DigiBC team are also some of the sweetest, hardest-working folks around, and we feel so privileged to know ’em. Proud partners indeed!
