October 28, 2024

Boosting Team Spirit: How Givecloud’s Swag Kits Elevated Employee Appreciation and Brand Engagement

When Givecloud, a forward-thinking tech company dedicated to empowering non-profits, approached us to design unique and impactful employee appreciation kits, we knew this would be a project we wanted—no, needed—to get our creative hands on. Their request was not just for ordinary swag but for thoughtfully curated, creatively designed kits that would resonate with their team and reflect the company’s vibrant culture.

The Challenge

Givecloud aimed to distribute swag boxes to their employees, with a specific goal of reinforcing culture and fostering a deeper connection to the company’s mission. They requested the design and production of custom apparel, notebooks, stickers, and of course a sweet swag box to package it all together and drop ship across Ontario and Quebec.

The challenge was not only to create designs that aligned with Givecloud’s brand but also to ensure these items carried the right message, both inspiring and engaging their employees.

The Creative Process

Working closely with the Givecloud team of Cloudies, our design team dove deep into the company’s values and mission. Givecloud provided us with amazing inspiration, highlighting key themes such as “trustraising” and the idea of “Helping Great People do Great Things.” This direction was critical in shaping the overall design aesthetic.

One of the most exciting aspects of the project was the creation of a brand mascot, affectionately named "Cloudy." Embodying the spirit of Givecloud, Cloudy became a key figure in the design concepts and is featured in both the t-shirt and one of the stickers in the set. The mascot was so well-received that Givecloud's CEO decided to integrate it into their app, demonstrating how thoughtful, creative design can extend beyond its original purpose—adding value and enhancing brand experience across multiple platforms.

givecloud-cloudie-mascot-graphic-design-tshirt-branded-merch-apparel

Design and Execution

Following the detailed design brief and inspiration, we designed multiple concepts for each product in the kit. Utilizing their vibrant brand colours, geometric shapes and slogans provided by their team, paired with retro cartoon and streetwear-style graphics, the concepts resonated particularly well with their team’s target audience.

Concepts were shown on various product colours, including black, grey, white and light blue for the t-shirts and blue or purple for the notebooks, to give them options that would best meet their preference for practicality and style.

To take the designs a step further, we suggested uncommon imprint methods such as metallic foil stamp on the notebook and holographic finish on select stickers for added flare.

The Givecloud team was actively involved in selecting their favourites, and after a few rounds of feedback and revisions, we landed on finalized concepts, which we then proofed, made print-ready and sent off for production with our vendors.

The products were delivered to our warehouse, where our top-notch warehouse team then carefully packed them into kits and arranged logistics to ship them where they needed to go.

The Final Product

The reaction from Givecloud was overwhelmingly positive. Their feedback—"EFFING YES 🤩"—summed up their excitement and satisfaction with the designs. The creative collaboration was praised for capturing the essence of their brand while providing results that were fresh and unexpected.

The success of the project was not just in the visual appeal but in how these swag kits resonated with the employees. The positive feedback from the team highlighted the value of investing in creative, meaningful appreciation gifts. The introduction of Cloudy as a brand mascot was particularly impactful, as it not only added personality to the swag but also became a lasting symbol within their brand.

Our collaboration with Givecloud on these employee appreciation swag kits was a testament to the power of creative design in building strong, positive connections within a company. By understanding their mission and values, we were able to deliver a product that exceeded their expectations and became an integral part of their employee appreciation initiative. This project serves as a prime example of how thoughtful, well-designed swag can go beyond just gifts—it can inspire, engage, and elevate a team’s morale, creating a lasting impression that aligns with the company’s goals.

If this case study has inspired you to think outside the box and elevate your employee appreciation efforts, we invite you to walk on the wild side with us. Whether it’s through bold, creative, made-for-merch designs, or unique, personalized swag kits, we’re here to help you make a lasting impact. Let’s collaborate to create something extraordinary for your team—because when it comes to showing appreciation, ordinary just won’t do. Reach out today, and let’s bring your vision to life!