“We’re Over It” Campaign

This attention-catching campaign sent a straightforward message to the men and boys of Frederick County: “We’re Over It.” We’re over rape culture, sexual assualt, and intimate partner violence.

Postern created custom line illustrations and gut-punching verbiage that would initiate tough conversations about who is really at fault for sexual assault and intimate partner violence. The campaign asks men and boys to look closely at their own actions and beliefs, and to stand up against sexual assault by asking questions like “Making light of something so dark?” and “Sweeping violence under the rug?” Each question is followed by the tagline phrase “We’re Over It,” as a meaningful punctuation that sends a clear message about standing up and speaking out against sexual violence.

The illustrations contained an element of implied movement in each, including a lightbulb bursting, a broom sweeping, a zipper pull, and others. In the animated video, these motions were brought to life to make an impact and drive home the meaning of the message.

Pieces of the campaign made its way to audiences through a wide variety of media, including digital ads, city bus ads, print ads in the Frederick News-Post, animated television commercials that aired via Comcast, radio ads aired on WFRE 99.9, and more–in both English and Spanish. The campaign was also printed on t-shirts in a variety of styles, ceramic and cardboard coasters, as well as stickers and buttons. Multiple channels and languages ensured the message behind the campaign was wide-reaching across the county, both online and in print.

Healing Hearts Circle

The emergence of COVID-19 in 2020 prevented Heartly House from hosting several critical in-person fundraising events. To create long-term stability in their funding, their solution was to develop a special giving group that would bring donors into the inner circle: The Healing Hearts Circle.

The Healing Hearts Circle is a group of caring people who have taken a pledge to donate $5,000 or more over the next five years to the organization so they can continue their work to help survivors heal and educate the community. Postern developed the branding and messaging, and a comprehensive promotional campaign for this new program, including a logo, brochure, webpage, social graphics, and a lapel pin for those who join the Healing Heart Circle.

The messaging for the campaign was written to resonate with both existing donors and new donors. It made an emotional impact and called on the community to help sustain the important work of the nonprofit.

“Healing rarely, if ever, happens in a vacuum. Only when a community comes together with gentleness, kindness, understanding, and benevolence, can we create a space for hearts and minds to heal.”

The PEACE Program

Heartly House needed a logo for The PEACE Program, a schedule of programming, group counseling, and other supportive events. Like the “Healing Hearts Circle” logo, this logo would need to include Heartly House’s existing branding, but represent the program as a new initiative. Using the organization’s brand colors, the logo is a triangle shape featuring a color gradient so that each band blends into the next, representing unity and support.