case study
Rainbow Labs
Brand refresh for a Los Angeles nonprofit that empowers Queer youth through mentorship, reflecting joy, inclusion, and their hands-on, lab-based programs.
About Rainbow Labs
Rainbow Labs is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit creating inclusive, mentor-led after-school programs for Queer and Gender Nonconforming (QGNC) youth ages 12–18. Through hands-on labs in STEM, leadership, sports, and policy, they help youth build confidence, community, and a sense of belonging.
Rainbow Labs had a dynamic mission, a strong program model, and passionate community support—but their brand visuals didn’t fully reflect their energy, creativity, or inclusiveness. Their logo relied on literal science symbols, their website was hard to update, and they lacked consistent templates to communicate effectively across programs and events.
We partnered with Rainbow Labs to evolve their brand without losing its spark. Our goal was to reflect their joyful, empowering spirit while making their visuals more accessible, scalable, and easy to use. We focused on three key areas:
Logo Refresh
Before: The original logo featured a beaker and rainbow—clear, but literal.
After: We designed a bold, abstract logo showing two sides of the queer community coming together to create a spark—a lightning bolt formed in the negative space. The hexagon shape conveys safety and strength, while the minimal, modern style ensures the logo holds up across platforms and sizes.
We also created a logo system with stacked and horizontal variations, plus a monogram and color adaptations for digital and print.
Marketing Templates
Stationery including letterhead, business cards, and memo templates
Presentation and pitch decks for community partners and funders
Press kits to support media visibility
We developed a full suite of Canva templates tailored for Rainbow Labs’ small and mighty team. These included:
✓
✓
✓
The templates followed clear brand guidelines to help the team maintain consistency and reduce design time.
Squarespace Website Refresh
RainbowLabs.org got a full redesign using Squarespace 7.1, with a fresh layout, new program pages, and improved mobile responsiveness. The new site features:
Custom illustrations and icons for each Lab
Clearer navigation and language written at an 8th-grade reading level
Integrated forms for applications and event RSVPs
A searchable calendar and Press page for media inquiries
A flexible donation system powered by Fundraise Up
We also provided a full training session and editable Canva files so the team could confidently manage the site moving forward.
Project team
Lauren Atherton
Creative Direction & Logo Design
Megan Newell
Logo Design
Services
Brand Level-Up
Logo & Visual Identity
Marketing Templates
Squarespace Website
Focus Areas
Community
Youth
Completed
June 2025
Whether you're craving clarity, a refreshed identity, or a full brand transformation, Heart Spark can help your nonprofit move forward with confidence.
Contact Us
level-up
Ready to
your nonprofit?
your nonprofit?
