Kanoko Nagai Designer Portfolio

Brand Identity

National Indigenous Fire Safety Council

Role

Graphic Designer

Project Overview

The branding for the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council (NIFSC) began in 2022 following its establishment as the successor organization to the Aboriginal Firefighters Association of Canada (AFAC). NIFSC provides fire safety training, knowledge sharing, and practical support to Indigenous communities across Canada. In addition, the organization hosts an annual national conference featuring expert-led presentations, hands-on training sessions, and competitions that bring together professionals from multiple fire safety disciplines.

Approach

Although brand guidelines defining the logo and typography already existed, there was no external documentation clearly communicating the organization’s vision, structure, or relationship between the multiple groups operating under NIFSC. As the annual conference continued to grow, opportunities to share the brand publicly increased, highlighting the need for stronger and more consistent branding standards.

After presenting the importance of this initiative, I obtained approval for the project and collaborated closely with board members to develop comprehensive brand documentation and updated logo usage guidelines. The design approach balanced Indigenous visual identity with modern design elements, allowing the organization to maintain cultural authenticity while differentiating itself from its predecessor.

As a result, conference attendance grew from approximately 150 participants in the first year to around 300 participants by 2025. Post-event feedback highlighted strong positive responses to the branding, particularly the integration of Indigenous art elements within a contemporary visual system.

Brand Guideline

Business Card/ Letterhead

Branded Report

Branded Brochure

Deliverables

Brand Guideline/ Business Card/ Letter Header/ Branded Report/ Branded Brochure etc.