African Collaborative

Brand Identity & Web Design

Brand Photography by Petros Teka courtesy of African Collaborative

African Collaborative (formerly African Visionary Fund) invests exclusively in African-led organizations, providing the critical, multi-year capital needed to help them realize their vision for Africa’s future.

After a successful first $10 million fund enabling 35 African-led organizations, the then African Visionary Fund (AVF) was gearing up for the next era in funding and advocacy work on the continent. After successful proof of concept and growth in visibility, the AVF team was ready for a rebrand that reestablished the fund as a strong, powerful and distinctly pan-African brand.

The team approached FourTwo to come on board as a strategy and design partner to bring the vision of the next generation of the organization to fruition.

Deliverables

Brand Strategy

Naming

Visual Identity Design

Digital Brand Materials

Website Design & Development

Naming

We led a comprehensive naming process to rename the former African Visionary Fund. Using distinct naming criteria, we began with an internal brainstorm to identify workable names, before leading a client workshop to test ideas and gather feedback. Ultimately, we arrived at the name “African Collaborative” to highlight the fund’s unique, collaborative approach to supporting locally led African social impact organizations.

In addition, we developed names for the organization’s sector funds, drawing from a range of African languages—including Swahili, Hausa, Lingala, and Zulu—to reflect its multicultural and Pan-African identity.

Afya

Health (Swahili)

Sani

Wisdom (Hausa)

Kusasa

Tomorrow (isiZulu)

Lokumu

Dignity (Lingala)

Idajo

Justice (Yoruba)

Asase

Earth (Akan)

Visual Identity Design

The newly named African Collaborative team was really inspired by the concept of the pan African flag—from it’s ethos to it’s colors—and we wanted to honor that with the color story.

The logo design drew on the bold, powerful, and rooted elements of the brand influenced by the history of Black and African activist movements. Each element of their design system was created with intention, down to the typography selections which were designed by Black and African designers.