CalWild

In 1976, five twenty-somethings – Jim Eaton, Don Morrill, Phil Farrell, Bob Schneider, and Jeffrey Barnickol – shared a passion and mission for a new startup, the California Wilderness Coalition. Their plan? disrupt the status quo of conservation activity, and achieve a breakthrough in wilderness preservation.

The California Wilderness Coalition brand identity has seen little updating since it first started in 1976. In that time the organization became known as CalWild to those most familiar with the brand. After nearly 50 years of operating CalWild felt it was time for an update. I wanted to preserve the brands history and recognizability while breathing new life into it’s identity.

In researching CalWild I came across dozens of issues of the Wilderness Record, CalWilds earliest news letters. These newsletters served as inspiration for the new type systems created for use throughout the organization.

“Dating back to 1976. Before digital media, our printed Wilderness Records were highly regarded in the conservation community – our first shot at communicating our work and growing our advocacy base. We want this part of our past to carry on, and we pay homage to it with the words we use.”