Redhead Wrapped: Celebrating a Year of Creative Impact

As we look back on the past year at Redhead, one thing stands out across every project: Creative work becomes truly meaningful when we can see it strengthen real communities. From public health campaigns, to local arts initiatives, to community activations, we were fortunate to see many campaigns, brands, and projects take flight this year, and to partner with organizations who share our commitment to values-centric work. This year’s projects stretched our thinking, sharpened our storytelling, and reaffirmed our belief that strategy can spark real change.

Today, we’re taking a moment to reflect on just a handful of the projects that made 2025 memorable.

Mid-State Health Network: Celebrating Strength Campaign

Research shows that stigma remains one of the biggest barriers to treatment for substance use disorder — particularly in Black, Hispanic, and Native American communities. Mid-State Health Network set out to change that narrative through an anti-stigma campaign centered on hope, not fear. Redhead worked with partners to host focus groups with individuals in recovery across four Michigan counties. Their stories revealed a powerful insight: People respond to joy, pride, and progress, not fear tactics. This led to a campaign theme, “Celebrating Strength,” grounded in lived experience, authentic voices, and hope on the horizon.

Working alongside real people in recovery, we gathered honest stories, original photography, and connection-centric videos that put a local face and message to recovery. The multi-channel campaign included a microsite, billboards, streaming commercials, radio ads, and a digital advocacy toolkit. Through this storytelling-forward campaign, we aimed to highlight personal journeys that demonstrate that recovery is possible, tying to local resources through CelebratingStrength.com. Shifting stigma doesn’t happen overnight — it begins with changing the stories people see, hear, and share about recovery. We were proud to play a role in amplifying these messages across the state. 

MSU Alumni Office: Homecoming Celebration

Each year, Redhead supports the Michigan State University Alumni Office in bringing Homecoming to life through design and communications materials. This year’s creative work included a banner, social graphics, bracelets, and supporting materials tied to their Grand Marshal, Paul Rosenberg: co-founder of Goliath Artists, Inc., and known for managing Eminem and as the president of Shady Records. Teaser social media announcements cleverly introduced the MSU alumnus’s role, pulling inspiration from album releases and incorporating audio from voice notes between Rosenberg and Eminem. We also designed giveaway bracelets to tie to the concert theme during the homecoming parade.

With a global alumni base, the MSU Alumni Office unites tens of thousands of Spartans around the world to share traditions, expand their networks, support communities, and uplift future Spartans. Homecoming is more than a celebration; it’s a recognition of the lifelong connection of a community, and the shared strength of people coming together from around the globe. 

Nelson Gallery: Stone Soup & Women’s History Month Scavenger Hunt

Nelson Gallery — Redhead’s sister business located on the first floor of our building — is a space to display and sell well-curated art and design in our historic George Nelson building. This year, we supported two signature community activations from Nelson Gallery designed to celebrate art, history, and local culture.

In March, Redhead supported design, writing, and promotion for the Historic Women of Washington Square, a retro-inspired scavenger hunt highlighting women-owned businesses and influential ladies connected to Washington Square in Downtown Lansing. The campaign drew residents and visitors into the district, sparking curiosity and community pride by encouraging people to pop into new businesses along the street throughout the month. 

In August, Nelson Gallery hosted the Stone Soup gathering, an outdoor block party potluck that invited neighbors to pause, connect, and break bread at one long, communal table. Redhead provided event design with a mid-century theme, bringing visual cohesion to an evening centered on connection, community activation, and the joy of a simple shared meal.

CEDAM: Free Tax Prep Volunteer Recruitment Campaign

Over the years, Redhead has had the privilege of collaborating with the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM) on brand strategy and campaign development. This fall, we collaborated with the CEDAM team to address a unique challenge: While Michigan’s free tax preparation programs return millions to residents each year, most locations lack enough volunteers to keep up with demand.

We developed the statewide campaign, “Transforming lives, one return at a time,” focused on motivating young adults and college students to become volunteer tax preparers. Redhead refreshed a website (MichiganFreeTaxHelp.org) with a volunteer interest form; activated geotargeted mobile and social ads on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok; distributed promotional toolkits to campus career centers; led grassroots email outreach to university student organizations; and deployed media relations across the state. 

The result was a meaningful increase in volunteer sign-ups thus far, and greater visibility for a critical community service. (If you’re looking for a rewarding volunteer opportunity for next year’s tax season, check it out.)

City of Lansing 2025 Arts Impact Grant: Honoring Lansing’s Manufacturing Roots

This year, Redhead and our principal and creative director, Jen, were awarded the City of Lansing’s 2025 Arts Impact grant for a public art installation that would bring educational materials and a new sculpture to Old Town. Located on the east fence line of Friedland Industries’s scrap metal yard, permanent display boards tell the story of Lansing’s strong manufacturing roots, as well as the importance of the scrap metal recycling process. Panels feature local history and original poetry by Lansing poet Rose Cooper. Repurposed metal from Friedland’s scrap yard accompany a sculptural centerpiece by local metalwork artist David Such.

Combining our interests in design, local history, and artistic collaboration, this project was near and dear to our hearts. The installation acts as both storytelling and tribute: revitalizing an underutilized spot along a major corridor, and bridging past and future through art.

The Redtrospective: Reflecting on 25 Years of Redhead

To celebrate Redhead’s 25th anniversary in February, we transformed Nelson Gallery into a visual timeline of 115 logos from more than two decades of brand development. We called this exhibition the Redtrospective: a collection of designs that represent the organizations, people, and stories we’ve had the privilege of shaping over the years.

The exhibit featured logos created by Redhead designers past and present, reflecting the way client needs, strategic insights, and creative expression evolve and converge. On one wall, we saw trends take shape, reminisced over some nostalgic favorites, and recognized local brands that have become a household name. From bold typography to carefully crafted iconography, the collection showed how form and function intersect to create meaningful visual identities. It was also a chance to connect, and a reminder of the vast range of organizations with whom we’ve been fortunate to collaborate: nonprofits, municipalities, education leaders, small businesses, arts organizations, placemakers, and everyone in between.

To our friends and collaborators: Thank you for trusting us with your brands, your stories, and your communities this past year. Your trust and vision made this work possible, and we’re grateful for every opportunity to help bring your ideas to life. Here’s to even more creativity, more impact, and more meaningful work in 2026. Let’s make something meaningful together.