The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D) is a proposal from the European Commission that aims to make businesses more sustainable and responsible. The directive establishes a duty for companies to identify and address any potential or actual negative impacts on people and the environment, both within and outside of Europe.

The Challenge

DWF briefed us to create a visual identity for their Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence campaign. To support the visual identity, we were also tasked with creating a multitude of supporting materials. The importance of the topic meant the visuals had to be striking and stand out to all of their clients, as well as clearly communicate the message of their expertise in this sector.

Internal teams lacked a unified, high-quality image resource. The result? Diluted messaging, and a brand experience that didn’t live up to the firm’s reputation for attention to detail and local presence.

The Solution

We created a visual identity that was rooted in their core brand elements, such as the shape from their logo, and focused on using their branded green colour to stand out from other materials and clearly highlight their ESG offerings. The graphic design was built using layered images and overlays, to illustrate how DWF looks through all the stages and elements of a company to highlight areas for improvement with the new CS3D regulations in mind.

Working collaboratively, we established an image strategy focused on:

• Hero Imagery: Abstract, macro photography showcasing texture and detail – echoing the brand idea that “a little detail goes a long way”. These images created standout moments in key marketing and communications materials.
• Supporting Imagery: Curated London-themed photography capturing local architecture, cityscapes, and bespoke details from within Russell-Cooke’s own offices – from Georgian staircases to rooftop beehives. The imagery reinforced the firm’s personality and sense of place.
• System and Structure: We categorised images into Hero and Supporting tiers, providing clear usage guidance for internal teams. This ensured flexibility across formats, from brochures to digital content, while maintaining brand cohesion.

The Result

This visual device and identity was used over a range of materials, from printed reports and flyers, to videos and online interactive documents. The multi channel outputs were all cohesive and on-brand and delivered the message clearly.

The result is a flexible, authentic visual identity that mirrors the firm’s ethos: expert, approachable, and firmly embedded in the city it serves.