Humanities organization changes name, releases short film and new website
Former Wieden + Kennedy creative director Jelly Helm focuses on “power of ideas” to help organization better tell its story.
25 September 2009 | Permalink
Oregon Humanities, formerly the Oregon Council for the Humanities, has changed its name, released the first in a series of short films exploring the power of a new idea, and rolled out a new website in the culmination of a two-year-long strategic planning and branding process. For more information about Oregon Humanities, and to see the first film, visit the organization’s new website.
The first film features commercial fisherman and Seaside High School teacher Jon Broderick, Literary Arts Executive Director Andrew Proctor, Wieden + Kennedy copywriter Julia Oh, former secretary of state Norma Paulus, Portland Monthly editor Randy Gragg, artist and activist CaroleZoom, former Gang of Four musician Dave Allen, Humanity in Perspective graduate Sharnissa Clemons, grants and outreach administrator Tonisha Toler, author Tom Spanbauer, and Reed College professor Pancho Savery. They share their thoughts on why new ideas are frightening, powerful, and, ultimately, necessary in creating change and moving communities forward.
The films were produced by Jelly Helm and filmmakers Sarah Marcus and Reed Harkness of Grow Film. The remaining films will be released over the coming months on the organization’s website.
Oregon Humanities hired Helm, a former executive creative director of Wieden + Kennedy who was recently hired as the branding consultant for Wikipedia, as an independent branding consultant in early 2009. Helm assembled a team of creatives to evaluate Oregon Humanities’ mission, goals, and programs, in cooperation with Oregon Humanities’ staff and board. Helm and his team focused on helping the organization better tell its story through a simpler name and new materials. The Portland-based design firm Pinch created the organization’s new website.
