Megan has a unique place in CLAPA’s rebranding story – as both a member of the creative brand team and our own community.
She’s a designer at The Team, the brand consultancy behind our beautiful new brand, and brings her personal lived experience of being born with a cleft lip and palate.
Megan said: “I was really excited when I heard I’d be working on the CLAPA refresh project – such a
brilliant opportunity! I felt a little nervous too, because I knew I was going to have to be a bit vulnerable, explaining things about my cleft to my colleagues.
“It was great to be an experienced voice in the room when ideas were being put on the table – to be able to say ‘I agree with that’ or ‘that might not be quite right’ based on my own journey with cleft.
“I was also very aware that my cleft journey is not the only journey, it’s been really important to get the wider consensus from the CLAPA community too.”
Megan said she’s aware CLAPA’s always there if support is ever needed, at any point in her life.
“I’ve always known if I connected I would be welcomed with open arms, and put into contact with the right people or get the support I needed.”
Megan formally introduced CLAPA to her colleagues when she organised an awareness day at The Team’s studio, an event they now run annually.
I love that CLAPA’s new brand reflects the lifelong journey with cleft.
When CLAPA was considering a brand refresh, they contacted The Team after learning about the awareness day, and were very kindly offered a ‘pro bono’ rebrand service that the company provides for charities close to their heart.
The Team worked with CLAPA on the brand’s strategy, then Megan was one of a team of designers who brought the brand to life, including CLAPA’s new exciting logo, typography and colour palette.
She said: “I love that CLAPA’s new brand reflects the lifelong journey with cleft, especially the thread-like curves which visually weave the promise that CLAPA is, and always will be, a thread for life and there for you at whatever point you may need them.
“Although the old brand served a purpose, the new brand will help to connect with a new generation. The brand is often the first interaction people have with CLAPA, so its important we represent them in a way that reflects their ongoing support over a lifetime through their different services. I think the new brand reflects that really well.
“I remember when we were presenting the new concepts, there was a lovely lady on the call who said she felt the new brand was something she could really relate to as an individual born with a cleft. For me, that gave reassurance we had captured the essence of CLAPA and the team was on the right track.”
Megan studied advertising and branding at London’s Ravensbourne University.
Some people had diaries, mine was a sketchbook. Drawing was my way of coping with appointments and treatment.
She said she was always “drawing and doodling” as a child, and remembers sketching while waiting for hospital appointments and recovering from surgery.
“Some people had diaries, mine was a sketchbook. Drawing was my way of coping with appointments and treatment.
“CLAPA was a helpful resource for moments when I started to question, ‘am I the only one born with a cleft?’ as I was the only one with a cleft in my school that I was aware of.
“That information was especially important when you start becoming more self-aware of your image, how it’s portrayed in the outside world, and the sometimes cruel comments from other people.”
Megan said the CLAPA brand project opened up many conversations about cleft in her workplace during its progression, when design ideas were being put up on the studio walls.
It felt good to educate people more about what life with a cleft is really about.
“Seeing the different design visuals going up on the studio walls sparked wider conversation about cleft with my colleagues, and resurfaced some of my own vulnerabilities. Fortunately, I’ve always had a great relationship with my colleagues regarding my cleft, so I felt safe to talk about it, and really get to the heart of the brand. It felt good to educate people more about what life with a cleft is really about.
“It’s how I’ve chosen to live my life. I’ve always found it easier to share my story to help make my environment more comfortable for me because, if someone knows, it removes the space for misinterpretation of what cleft is, and helps educate those who otherwise wouldn’t have known about cleft before.
“I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to do something like this, and work with so many lovely people on it.
“I’m really excited to see it out there – and for it to help support a new generation of the CLAPA community, as well as the existing!”
“I love that CLAPA’s new brand reflects the lifelong journey with cleft, especially the thread-like curves which visually weave the promise that CLAPA is, and always will be, a thread for life and there for you at whatever point you may need them.