Nagambie HealthCare
Brand Rollout / Print Design / Building Signage / Illustration
Objective
To roll out a newly developed brand identity for a small rural Health Service across all touchpoints, ensuring consistency, innovation and alignment with the organisation’s future-focused healthcare vision. The project aimed to elevate the organisation’s public presence, strengthen internal culture, and support Board confidence, government grant applications and philanthropic fundraising efforts.
Project Scope
As a freelance designer, I was engaged following a comprehensive rebrand. My role was to implement the new visual identity across print, building signage and website.
Key deliverables included:
Design and layout of a visually engaging Strategic Plan
Brochure-style strategic plan featuring an idea I had to incorporate a landscape illustration inspired by the lake in Nagambie; a key landmark in the community
Residents Handbook printed on premium stock in the new brand
Bifold medicine information booklets
Patient communication whiteboards using bright, approachable illustrations
Community centre window graphics to revitalise an ageing façade
Building signage mock-ups to demonstrate real-world logo application
Final signage installation (later featured on the front page of the local newspaper)
Event collateral including a staff and resident Christmas celebration poster
Managed photography logistics and curated image selections to maintain consistency with the new brand identity across print and digital platforms.
Ongoing website updates aligned to new brand photography guidelines
My involvement also included attending a brand strategy workshop alongside the Creative Director and Brand Strategist. This provided valuable insight into brand positioning, the importance of staff and community survey feedback, and the strategic reasoning behind visual decisions. It was my responsibility to adhere strictly to the new brand guidelines while developing collateral that required further refinement beyond the original style guide.
Printed whiteboards
Process
Collaboration was central to the project’s success, particularly working closely with the organisation’s visionary CEO. The CEO was deeply committed to innovation and reform within rural healthcare and sought design solutions that reflected this ambition.
The Strategic Plan became the cornerstone of the project. What began as a standard Microsoft Word document evolved into a visually compelling publication that combined clear hierarchy, thoughtful layout and expressive illustration. The flowing river motif (inspired by the lake in Nagambie) symbolised continuity, growth and connection within the community, aligning with the Health Service’s forward-thinking agenda.
Brand photography guidelines were carefully upheld, particularly within the Residents Handbook and website imagery. Photography needed to portray empowered, independent aged-care residents supported by staff in ways that felt authentic rather than staged. Every visual decision reinforced dignity, warmth and professionalism.
I worked alongside a professional photographer, assisting with setup and art direction to ensure imagery reflected the brand’s values and felt natural and authentic.
Mock-ups were essential in demonstrating how the logo and colour system would translate onto building signage and environmental graphics. These visualisations supported Board approval processes and ensured confidence prior to production.
Throughout the project, I provided reliable and responsive design support, meeting tight print deadlines for the creation of event adverts in the local paper and accommodating last-minute website updates as required.
Inspiration
The inspiration behind the Strategic Plan design stemmed from the CEO’s desire for something creative and distinctive, a departure from traditional healthcare documents. The lake in Nagambie became a metaphorical anchor for the visual narrative, symbolising movement, renewal and community connection.
More broadly, the project was inspired by the organisation’s mission to deliver viable, sustainable healthcare within a close-knit rural setting. The opportunity to visually express reform, innovation and culture through thoughtful design was both motivating and meaningful.
Nagambie Lake (Photo: Darin Frankpitt)
Cover Inspiration: The river imagery symbolises continuity, growth and forward movement, reflecting the NHC’s evolving vision and its deep connection to community and place.
Value / Results
The Strategic Plan was enthusiastically received by the Board and wider community.
The document became a powerful communication tool to articulate innovation in rural healthcare delivery.
Design assets supported funding conversations and philanthropic engagement.
New signage gained local visibility and was featured on the front cover of the regional newspaper.
The cohesive rollout strengthened brand recognition across print, digital and environmental applications.
Ongoing responsive design support ensured operational continuity.
The project was featured online in The Best Medical Print Designs by DesignRush.
This project reinforced the capacity of thoughtful design to influence perception, support organisational sustainability and contribute meaningfully to community wellbeing. It further deepened my commitment to using design as a vehicle for positive change.
Testimonial / from the CEO
“Working collaboratively with designer Elizabeth Nicholls was central to the success of our organisation’s rebranding and marketing project. Her capacity to work with team members in a professional and engaging manner was refreshing and her individualised approach to design was a far cry from “off the shelf” approaches offered by other design companies.
Elizabeth genuinely listened to consumers and the team, understood the importance of communicating our values and the end product genuinely reflected the essence of health service and its ultimate success.
As a small rural health service operating on a very tight design budget, the end product can only be described as outstanding!
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