Professor Rebeca Méndez is awarded 2016 'Vision Over Violence' Humanitarian Award
Rebeca Méndez Studio is recognized for its generous contribution to Peace Over Violence
In 2004, Rebeca Méndez Studio made a heartfelt decision to donate their creative services to ‘Los Angeles Commission on Assaults Against Women’, a non-profit, multicultural, volunteer organization whose mission is building healthy relationships, families and communities, free from sexual, domestic and interpersonal violence. RMS became the agency’s brand stewards and continued to lead them through their re-branding process until 2008. Rebeca Méndez and Adam Eeuwens helped them in repositioning their mission, gave them a new name and visual vocabulary so it more accurately represents the agency’s expanded mandate of not only intervening in sexual assault and domestic abuse cases against women, but also actively preventing violence through education programs for youth, including girls and boys, and informing public policy and opinion on a local, state and federal level. The re-brand launched on October 27, 2006 at their Annual Humanitarian Awards event in Los Angeles. That night the organization received 50% more donations than they have ever received since their existence.
The work was accomplished with extremely limited funds, yet with tireless dedication of great men and women who believe that violence is preventable and peace achievable. Professor Méndez, in her undergraduate courses—Brand Lab, internships and directed research—guided her students through research, methodology and projects in the areas of organization, culture and identity, as well as the mission of the organization. Participating alumni included, Gabriel Noguez, Gareth Walsh, Daisy Moreno, Donny Lu, Gregg Dodds, Tyson Evans, Jenn Tranbarger, Ryan Weafer, Luca Barton, and Roxane Zargham, among others.
The creative strategy included establishing of an in-house design director position to maintain and expand the brand identity created by Rebeca Méndez Studio. This position has been held solely by UCLA, Design Media Arts alumni—Daniel Pizarro, Cayla McCrae and, since 2013, Omar Lopez.
See the brand Identity Work: Rebeca Mendez Design
Find out more about the Humanitarian Awards: Peace Over Violence