Sharing stories of strength
with JHU’s Center for American Indian Health
What they needed
The Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health supports public health interventions designed for and by Native peoples. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, they approached us to help share stories about the leadership and resilience of many Indigenous communities, including American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian.

About the Logo
In many traditions, fire and water are sacred, powerful gifts that are kept by both men and women equally. This symbol echoes this sentiment, showing that strength depends on all genders equally. The rising smoke forms the letters of their name: Indigenous Stories of Strength (ISS). The smoke also symbolizes the connection to and spiritual strength drawn from the Creator. A bold uppercase font pops their acronym and speaks to themes of resiliency and strength.



How we helped
We worked with JHU to create a brand, website, and videos to spotlight Indigenous stories and innovations. Their website is fully accessible, with a virtual showcase of the many ways Indigenous people are supporting each other through challenging times. Their work was so well received that JHU kept going, asking us to create animated videos and guides for other Indigenous audiences, including COVID-19 frontline workers and students.


Taking care of the caretakers
Those who take care of patients need to take care of themselves first. That’s why we helped create a series of mental health guides and training videos tailored for COVID-19 frontline workers in American Indian and Alaskan Native communities. Inspired by an abalone shell, the colours and patterns symbolize our connection with others and with the land.








Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health – Psychological First Aid Case Study Videos
Keeping schools safe
To support Native American schools, JHU produced a COVID-19 safety toolkit. We created a fun and engaging layout packed with icons and infographics, including one that shows how to use self-testing kits.



