An independent, college preparatory school for girls in grades 5-12 rooted in the Roman Catholic tradition, NCDS trusted Dan Beard Design with the redesign of its admissions material and of the school magazine.
Viewbook Series
We developed three mini-viewbooks to address three likely entry points for prospective students. Each was tailored to address specific concerns of their intended audience: Middle School (grades 5-8), Ninth Grade, and Upper School (grades 9-12.)
The oversized square format immediately stands out from more traditional mailed materials and allows for the use of large and engaging photography. Each piece also employs a dramatic gatefold to help set the tone for the more detailed content inside.
Admissions Postcards
A series of postcards was developed for prospective students and their families who had expressed an interest in a particular aspect of the school’s offerings. These serve as an informal touch point for the admissions team and allow admissions staff to write a personal note to further engage with the girls while they are deciding where to apply.
The postcards have been extremely useful and are updated annually with new images.
school magazine
Très Bien, the NCDS school magazine, is published annually. It serves to communicate school happenings to current families and alumni. It also functions as an annual report of giving.
The design challenge was to achieve a cleaner, more contemporary look without sacrificing any traditions. The skillful introduction of more white space and a clearer typographic hierarchy have had a great impact on the overall feel and readability of the publication.
“Dan has been a wonderful creative partner through the redesign and yearly updates of our admission materials and school magazine. He is as invested as we are in the success of the final pieces.”