Achieva Brand Refresh
Achieva is a nonprofit organization providing comprehensive services and support, serving thousands of individuals with disabilities and their families every year. Since the 1950s, they have helped to establish a nationwide movement that changed the long history of isolation and segregation for both children and adults with disabilities.
Services
Brand Strategy
Brand Identity
Message Framework
Brand Standards Print Design
Industry
Nonprofit
Family Services
The Challenge
Achieva is the only agency in southwestern Pennsylvania that provides lifelong support for people with disabilities. Despite having a strong legacy of impact, they lacked a cohesive brand identity to match their mission and reach. Their visuals and messaging did not reflect their leadership, warmth, or approachability. To continue expanding awareness and fostering trust within the communities they serve, Achieva needed a complete brand refresh that could effectively tell their story and reflect their evolution as a partner in lifelong support.
Our Approach
Shift partnered with Achieva to develop a brand identity that embodies their core personality traits: trustworthiness, empowerment, and empathy. Our work began with an in-depth Research & Discovery phase, which included a comprehensive brand audit and an exerciseSHIFT session involving a diverse group of Achieva stakeholders.
During exerciseSHIFT, we uncovered the specific challenges Achieva staff members faced in clearly communicating key aspects of their identity, including the full scope of their services, what differentiates them, the meaning behind their name, and, most importantly, who they are and whom they serve.
Strategy & Execution
Shift worked with Achieva to develop a brand voice that positions the organization as a lifelong advocate and expert, guiding individuals and families through every stage of life. At the same time, the messaging highlights their role as a trusted partner, offering personalized and evolving support, as well as a welcoming presence that radiates warmth, inclusion, and community care.
Visually, we developed an identity system that is both modern and meaningful. While Achieva had previously struggled with the dated aesthetic of the star motif in their logo, they remained deeply connected to its symbolism — a guiding star representing the organization’s lifelong commitment to support. In the redesign, the star was reimagined and given renewed purpose. It now forms the foundation of a four-point system, with each section symbolizing one of Achieva’s core sub-brands: Achieva Family Trust, Achieva Resource, Achieva Support, and The Arc of Greater Pittsburgh.
The visual system is supported by a lively, flexible color palette designed to be useful and emotionally resonant. Typography was selected to ensure clarity across all communications while reinforcing a cohesive and unified brand experience.
Outcome
The new Achieva brand is more than a visual refresh; it’s a reaffirmation of purpose. It speaks clearly and compassionately to the thousands of people who rely on Achieva every day. The identity is bold, adaptable, and forward-looking, just like the organization itself.
