One campaign, two international honours. Playful Work. Real Impact. has earned Gold and Silver Certifications at the 19th edition of the GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN Awards.
Created in partnership with the Manitoulin-Sudbury District Services Board, the project received Gold in Communication Design for Website, Apps & UI/UX and Silver in Brand Design for Brand Identity.
The campaign began with an urgent challenge. Childcare providers across Northeastern Ontario were struggling to recruit the people needed to support children, families and communities throughout the region. MSDSB needed a campaign that could reach potential candidates, challenge assumptions about the field and present childcare as a meaningful career.
Grounded in research into the region’s workforce landscape, our strategy shaped every part of the campaign, including its name, messaging, visual identity, custom illustrations and digital experience.
At the centre of the campaign is Playful Work. Real Impact. (Un travail ludique. Un réel impact.), a bilingual concept that captures both the joy and purpose of working in early childhood education. The visual identity builds on that idea with bright colours, playful typography and a flexible family of custom illustrations designed to feel welcoming, energetic and human.
The campaign comes to life through a central jobs portal featuring opportunities from 20 childcare centres across the Manitoulin-Sudbury region. Designed to make the employment search clear and accessible, the website helps candidates explore available positions and connect with childcare providers throughout the North, including those in smaller and more remote communities.
A tailored Google Ads campaign supported the platform, helping potential caregivers discover relevant opportunities and driving meaningful traffic and applications to the site.
Together, the identity, website and campaign transformed a regional recruitment challenge into a vibrant and cohesive experience. More importantly, the work presents a career in childcare for what it truly is: playful, purposeful and capable of making a lasting impact.
About the Manitoulin-Sudbury District Services Board
The Manitoulin-Sudbury District Services Board delivers essential community services across the districts of Manitoulin and Sudbury, including childcare and early years programs, social assistance, housing and paramedic services.
Explore the award-winning project
Visit playfulwork.ca
About the GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN Awards
The GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN Awards celebrate excellence in design, architecture and the built environment on an international stage. Spanning disciplines from communication and branding to architecture, product and interior design, entries are evaluated by an international jury of more than 120 industry experts.
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