CALM NOLA
CALM provides clear, accessible information on early psychosis and first-episode intervention, helping communities in and around New Orleans recognize symptoms and connect with timely care. Through public education campaigns and resources for individuals and families, CALM bridges research and real-world impact, making critical mental health support easier to reach and reducing delays in treatment.
BRANDING, WEBSITE, CAMPAIGN MATERIALS
The Starting Point
When I started working with CALM, their brand looked like every other mental health organization: soft colors, calm vibes, and not much personality. But that wasn’t them. The founders are bold, creative, and visionary, just like their clients and the New Orleans community that surrounds them.
The goal was to bring that energy forward, without changing the logo. That’s the power of a full brand identity.
The Direction
Founders Serena and Ashley have a minimal, bold, and edgy personal style, which became the foundation of the brand direction. Leaning into this aesthetic allowed the messaging to stand out within the colorful, busy landscape of New Orleans. The visual direction also nods to the creativity and artistic expression of their clients.
This client came with only a low res logo file, so we started by rebuilding it from the ground up, keeping the original design intact and creating the proper files needed to move forward.
This billboard was part of the psychosis awareness campaign focused on community education and breaking stereotypes. By the end of the campaign, the CALM logo became recognizable in the community.
The bold design and simple messaging translated seamlessly into bus ads, cutting through the visual noise of New Orleans and putting the campaign in front of the community every day.
The interior bus ads drew from the artistic heart of the New Orleans community and the EPIC Clinic. The copy came directly from poems written by clients describing their lived experience with psychosis. Personal, honest, and intentionally relatable, designed to reach both those learning about psychosis and those quietly living it.
Posters, flyers, and handouts distributed throughout the community, each with a uniquely tracked QR code directing people to a psychosis symptom quiz. The tracking gave us clear insight into which messages were resonating and where.
Building on the success of the first campaign, CALM secured funding for a follow-up centered around high risk factors of psychosis. Trackable QR codes directed people to a dedicated landing page.
Bus and billboard ads rolled out across the city again, each version dedicated to a specific risk factor of psychosis. Keeping the New Orleans creative community at the heart of the work, I developed a series of block print inspired illustrations to anchor each execution.
The dedicated landing page anchored the campaign, featuring videos of local influencers sharing real conversations about their experiences with psychosis, followed by educational resources on risk factors and pathways to getting help.
Social content carried the campaign further, keeping the messaging and visuals consistent across every touchpoint.
The success of the CALM campaigns contributed to EPIC clinic's expansion across the country, bringing specialized care to more communities in need.
The new brand direction extended into audio with cover art for CALM's Reality Check Podcast, keeping the visual identity consistent across every platform.
This client came with only a low res logo file, so we started by rebuilding it from the ground up, keeping the original design intact and creating the proper files needed to move forward.
This billboard was part of the psychosis awareness campaign focused on community education and breaking stereotypes. By the end of the campaign, the CALM logo became recognizable in the community.
The bold design and simple messaging translated seamlessly into bus ads, cutting through the visual noise of New Orleans and putting the campaign in front of the community every day.
The interior bus ads drew from the artistic heart of the New Orleans community and the EPIC Clinic. The copy came directly from poems written by clients describing their lived experience with psychosis. Personal, honest, and intentionally relatable, designed to reach both those learning about psychosis and those quietly living it.
Posters, flyers, and handouts distributed throughout the community, each with a uniquely tracked QR code directing people to a psychosis symptom quiz. The tracking gave us clear insight into which messages were resonating and where.
Building on the success of the first campaign, CALM secured funding for a follow-up centered around high risk factors of psychosis. Trackable QR codes directed people to a dedicated landing page.
Bus and billboard ads rolled out across the city again, each version dedicated to a specific risk factor of psychosis. Keeping the New Orleans creative community at the heart of the work, I developed a series of block print inspired illustrations to anchor each execution.
The dedicated landing page anchored the campaign, featuring videos of local influencers sharing real conversations about their experiences with psychosis, followed by educational resources on risk factors and pathways to getting help.
Social content carried the campaign further, keeping the messaging and visuals consistent across every touchpoint.
The success of the CALM campaigns contributed to EPIC clinic's expansion across the country, bringing specialized care to more communities in need.
The new brand direction extended into audio with cover art for CALM's Reality Check Podcast, keeping the visual identity consistent across every platform.
Impact
Research collected during the campaign showed a 59% decrease in the duration of untreated psychosis in New Orleans. In other words, people were recognizing the signs of psychosis and getting the care they needed sooner.
Since then, CALM has opened two new locations, grown its community, and proven that aligned brands create real impact.
Awards & Press
EIN PRESSWIRE 2025: Red Rock Branding Wins 3 TITAN Health Awards for Campaign Transforming Mental Health Awareness in New Orleans
Tulane University Office of Research 2025: Mental health campaign dramatically cuts treatment delays for psychosis
Marcom Award - Gold - Native Advertising (2023), Awarded to the Red Rock Branding team for our work on the CALM NOLA campaign
AVA Digital Awards - Gold - Advertising (2023), Awarded to the Red Rock Branding team for our work on the CALM NOLA campaign