Sylva School

A different childhood.

Sylva School graphic element: Hand-drawn pink looped arrow.

Forest school principles, meets adaptive learning.

Brand strategy
Enrollment campaign
Videography 
Brand build
Icon development
Photography
Copywriting
Brand voice
Outreach materials
Website design
Internal brand identity
The Brief

Sylva School came to us during the pilot run of her new program. They lacked foundational branding that represented their mission and pedagogy and an urgent need to fill the inaugural class.

THE Challenge

With only 4-months until their enrollment deadline for fall 2026, and little brand awareness, we had to develop an outreach strategy for efficiency, by providing a clear and concise narrative for prospective parents. We knew the key to success was providing parents an informed introduction into Sylva School pedagogy before first contact.

Sylva School graphic element: Hand-drawn line art of a green plant with elongated leaves.
A Sylva School Student in a yellow sweatshirt is sitting at a green table outdoors, doing interest-based projects.
A Sylva School student outdoors jumping from structure at the beach on a sunny day, with a clear blue sky in the background and a sandy area below.
Sylva School student exploring nature, holding a green leaf with three snails and yellow, purple, and white flowers.
Sylva School founder, Laura Engel, wearing sunglasses and a purple jacket smiling at a student sitting on a park bench, who is looking at a leaf, outdoors.
Sylva School graphic element: Hand-drawn brown line drawing of a dragonfly with detailed wings and body.
Sylva School Teacher Carla sitting at a green picnic table with student outdoors by a river. The table has supplies for interest-based projects. In the background, there is lush greenery.
Sylva School graphic element: Hand-drawn outline of beaker with a plant and liquid depicted in orange.
Two Sylva School students exploring in a shallow, rocky stream, wearing water boots.

“Working with Brand-ish was one of the most transformative investments I've made as a founder. They have an extraordinary ability to listen beyond the words, uncover the heart of a vision, and translate it into a brand that feels authentic, emotionally compelling, and deeply aligned with your purpose. They didn't just create the visual identity for Sylva School; they helped give voice to a movement and challenged me to think bigger than a school, inspiring me to build a brand that people can believe in. Their creativity, strategic insight, and genuine commitment to understanding the "why" behind their work set them apart from anyone I've worked with. If you're looking for someone who can help turn your mission into a brand that truly connects with people, I cannot recommend the Brand-ish team highly enough.”

—LAURA ENGEL, FOUNDER, SYLVA SCHOOL

Our Approach

We helped clarify their vision and turned Sylva School into a brand families could immediately connect with. Sylva School Philosophy™, sincerity, and passion became the heart of the messaging, allowing families to feel aligned before visiting the school.

  • Voice, messaging, and visual identity rooted in the Sylva School Philosophy™

  • A website, email, and social presence designed to feel calm and intentional

  • Clear enrollment pathways for Info Sessions, Drop-in Days or Trial Weeks, and Applications

  • Outreach strategy focused on reaching families with similar values

  • A two-day photo and video shoot capturing the real experience of the school

Every touchpoint was designed to help families not just understand Sylva School, but immediately connect.

Sylva School graphic element: Hand-drawn line art of lightbulb in magenta.
Sylva School student using a laptop for academic portion of day, at a green marble table inside a pavilion with green trees visible outside.
Sylva School student purchasing supplies like a small metal object and tools to complete interest-based projects.
A sheet of paper containing a hand-drawn diagram of a robot, notes, and labels for interest-based projects. Colorful paper loops are arranged in a line along with other supplies gathered from store.
Sylva School student using a laptop with white cover for academic portion of day, wearing a blue raincoat and black headphones standing at a green marble table outdoors. There is greenery and red pillars in the background.
Sylva School student using a laptop with sight words on the screen while sitting outdoors near a lake, with trees and sunlight reflecting on the water.
Sylva School students playing on a large, old, red and gray structure tilted upright on grass under a clear blue sky, with trees in the background.
A Sylva School student with a curious expression and blue eyes leaning over a green outdoor table, working on interest-based projects. There are supplies on the table. The background shows outdoor greenery and trees.
Sylva School student is holding a large shell close to their face, partially covering it, during a field trip.
View of San Francisco landscape with green trees in the foreground, mountains and Golden Gate Bridge in the distance, water, and a partially cloudy sky with some blue.
Two Sylva School students wearing helmets and backpacks on a field trip viewing a display of preserved specimens enclosed in glass jars at educational exhibits.
Sylva School graphic element: Hand-drawn outline of of a butterfly in red with intricate wing patterns. 
The Result
Sylva School graphic element: Hand-drawn outline of of a lightning bug in amber color.

Sylva School represents a new kind of education: balanced, calm, curious, and individualized.

  • A visual identity that showcases a day-in-the-life for a student at Sylva School 

  • Messaging that clearly communicates what Sylva School is, who they are for, how they balance academics and forest school principles for a new kind of education

  • Streamlined processes for ease of enrollment outreach

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