We create brands that are deeply connected to vision, rich with meaning, and crafted to inspire, align, and endure. Beautiful Brand Intelligence.
Menu
Playford International College
Overview
Project Detail
Playford International College is a proudly multicultural school for students from Years 7 to 12 in the heart of Elizabeth, South Australia. Defined by resilience, compassion and a strong sense of belonging, the school plays an important role within the local community. Whilst the character of the college was felt deeply internally, the existing identity no longer reflected the vibrancy, diversity or character of the people it represented.
StudioBand® was engaged to develop a complete brand strategy, identity system and digital experience capable of reconnecting the school community with a renewed sense of pride and momentum. The objective extended far beyond aesthetics; the brand needed to authentically represent the heart of the school.
Through workshops, interviews and collaboration with students, teachers, leadership staff and the broader community, the project evolved into a deeply collective process grounded in representation, self-belief and possibility. The result is a bold and expressive brand built around the school motto ‘Define It. Own It. Play It.’ — an identity encouraging students to shape their future, embrace who they are and move forward with courage.
Client
Playford International College
Industry
Education
Deliverables
Brand strategy
Brand identity
Art direction
Photography
Videography
Website design and development
Branded application
The symbol is built from three geometric forms representing the school motto: Define It. Own It. Play It. An upward arrow symbolises direction, ambition and aspiration, while the central circle speaks to identity, belonging and community. The final arrow introduces movement, momentum and progression. Together, these forms create a distinctive mark that sits at the heart of the identity, expressing the collective energy and spirit of the school. Complementing the symbol is a custom typographic wordmark featuring soft curves and balanced forms that work harmoniously to create a confident and enduring identity.
Approach
Building an Identity Students Could Believe In
The previous identity relied heavily on traditional academic symbolism and institutional cues that felt disconnected from the lived experience of the school community. Our approach focused on building a brand that reflected the people within Playford — their resilience, warmth and individuality.
Students, teachers, leadership staff and community members were actively involved throughout the process, helping shape both the strategic direction and final outcome. These conversations revealed a shared sense of courage, care and ambition that became central to the identity system, shaping a brand designed to encourage participation, confidence and personal growth across all aspects of school life.
Supporting this was the broader idea of The Playford Spirit, a collective sense of determination, pride and possibility that already existed within the college and simply needed the right language and visual expression to bring it forward.
Creating a System Full of Energy and Expression
The visual identity was designed to feel vibrant, optimistic and unmistakably Playford. At the centre of the system is a custom symbol built from three geometric forms representing ‘Define It, Own It, Play It’. Together, the shapes create a unique mark that speaks to direction, identity, momentum and community.
Colour, typography, photography and motion work together to create a bold school brand. A palette of charcoal, coral, teal and iris represents creativity, vitality and warmth, while the typography system balances personality with structure across both digital and physical applications.
Rather than relying on staged or overly polished school photography, the art direction focused on personality, curiosity and genuine connection. Students were encouraged to express themselves openly throughout the shoot process, resulting in imagery that feels energetic, authentic and reflective of the school itself.
This thinking extended across the uniforms and digital experience. Hoodies, caps, beanies and casual uniform elements helped create something students could genuinely feel proud to wear. The website breaks away from conventional education design through movement, modular layouts, videography and layered storytelling — creating a digital experience that feels contemporary, engaging and alive.
The photography and videography place both students and staff at the centre of the brand, capturing the warmth, diversity and spirit that defines the Playford community. Students were encouraged to express themselves openly and interact naturally throughout the shoot process, while teachers and leadership staff were photographed in a calm and approachable way that speaks to the school’s genuine culture of care. Together, the photography and videography creates a visual library that feels energetic, welcoming and authentically representative of the people who shape the school every day.
The Playford International College website is a true extension of the brand — expressive, energetic and full of personality. The bold colour palette, dynamic typography, photography and videography all come together to create a digital platform that feels unique, welcoming and distinctly non-institutional. Rather than following the conventions of traditional school websites, the experience embraces movement, layered storytelling and visual expression to reflect the diversity and momentum of the school.
Outcome
Result
The refreshed identity has been embraced across the school community, creating a stronger sense of visibility, connection and self-belief amongst students, staff and families. The motto quickly became embedded within the culture of the school, whilst the new uniforms and visual identity gave students something they could genuinely identify with and feel proud to represent.
By aligning strategy, identity and experience, Playford International College now has a brand system that reflects the vibrancy, resilience and individuality already present — a system designed not just to represent the school, but to genuinely reflect the people at its centre.
Photography
Josh Geelen
Videography
Jarrod Knoblauch