Kids Thrive Maryland

Sometimes the solution to a problem is finding a way to avoid it altogether. With decades of experience guiding our partners in large-scale enterprise website development, we’ve assisted them in navigating the inefficiencies and overcomplicated workflows that make projects take longer and cost more. By designing our own website development framework, we can accelerate the time-to-market and reduce costs for our partners. Put simply, our framework leapfrogs over the roadblocks of starting from scratch by reducing the number of people involved, setting a clear approval process, and timeboxing creative activities, among other things. 

Every project is unique, and the accelerator isn’t always the right solution. However, for the Institute’s PIEC team, it was a perfect fit. It allowed them to launch a new website in under six months and free up funding to support other equally important creative and marketing activities.

Your Name Is Your Superpower

A well-designed website provides the foundation for accessibility and engagement, but a memorable moniker is essential for creating meaningful first impressions, lasting recognition, and trust. Consolidating the initiatives partnerships between the University of Maryland School of Social Work Institute for Innovation and Implementation Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation, Maryland Pyramid Model, and The Maryland State Department of Education (Phew! That’s a mouthful!) into three simple outcome-oriented words—Kids Thrive Maryland—says it all. 

Branding That Gets a Boost

Another bonus was the ability to allocate budget to branding and visual identity assets as a result of opting in to idfive’s accelerated web development framework. The result—Kids Thrive Marylands’s new logo became a game changer. 

• The use of modern, vibrant colors to symbolize resilience and progress. 
• Combined with dark blue the initiative conveys authority and trustworthiness and the logo’s three distinct sections serve to not only represent support for children’s mental, emotional, and social well-being, but also the three key groups served: childcare providers, teachers/professionals, and parents/families. 
• These sections form a circle, symbolizing a balanced, supported child, with a central triangle representing the Pyramid Model framework. 
• Equal section sizes reflect equity, a core value. The rounded typeface is friendly and approachable, with a clear style that connects “Kids Thrive” and “Maryland” as distinct yet linked elements.

By applying the “i” and the “d” (informed design) of idfive, Kids Thrive Maryland had the branding backbone needed to make their new digital presence meaningful, expand to new audiences, and express a mission that donors could get behind.

Emphasis on Engaging, Hopeful, Accessible Content

Attention could also be focused on high-quality content—developing concise descriptions, visual aids, and glossaries to demystify early childhood behavioral resources and technical terms. Storytelling played a pivotal role, showcasing the real-life successes of families and providers to inspire trust and community. The website integrated easy-to-use tools for locating local services, training opportunities, and consultation programs. Features such as numbered steps, video guides, and detailed contact information ensured that users could quickly identify and access the resources they needed. Free services were prominently highlighted to remove financial barriers.

Better Budget Allocations for Bigger Results

In the end, instead of getting just a new website from the approved budget, the client received a centralized, user-friendly website, an exciting new brand, a new logo, customized design elements, and a social media outreach plan to raise awareness of the new initiative. 

Success stories and a focus on positive outcomes now foster a sense of shared purpose and resilience among users. Simplified navigation, jargon-free content, and local resource listings have led to a new outlet to grow service utilization. Providers and families are now more confident in seeking support, knowing help is accessible and stigma-free, expanding the initiative to inform a brighter, more equitable future for Maryland’s children.

Learn more about working with idfive to accelerate and expand your outcomes and impact.