We believe in making a difference in the city we call home. Atlanta has a vast array of noteworthy organizations primed for a movement of incredible feats, but like a fuel doused pile of tender they simply need a flame. Thus, On The House, Matchstic's annual pro-bono campaign giving one deserving non-profit an entire brand makeover, was inspired.

For years the desire to give back lived in a reactionary mode responding to several heart-felt stories with several short-lived solutions, resulting in little significance for the organization. As a branding firm, we evangelize the power of focus, and decided it was time to practice what we preach. On The House is the strategy of saying several "no's" in order to say one really big "yes" and radically transform one deserving organization per year.

Since starting the On The House program in 2008, we have transformed two organizations with a third on the way, resulting in over $250,000 in donated services. But most notably we have ignited an ever-growing flame of passion and impact on our city and on three incredible causes.

We can't do it alone. On The House Partners.

Matchstic offers a full brand identity over-haul, including brand strategy and design implementation, but that only goes so far. We have assembled some of Atlanta’s leading experts, including public relations, photography, trademarking, writing, printing, web development, and motion design, to join the cause and make an even greater impact. Our current 2010 partners are:

Ries & Ries

SeeSparkGo

Standard Press

Battle Axe

Stephen Hunton Photography

Bottlecap

Green Tricycle Films

Branderfield

Zoink

Foltz Martin

2010 On The House Recipient- Atlanta Union Mission

The Mission serves as many as 1,070 men, women and children every day of the year with emergency shelter, residential recovery and transitional housing, as it is the city’s largest homeless initiative. With a new leadership team it is primed to have an even greater impact on this city with a brand over-haul. Homelessness is an overwhelming issue in the city of Atlanta that few dare to take on but the mission IS changing lives and ending homelessness.

We are currently under way in the branding process and will soon be announcing the brand new Atlanta Union Mission. In the mean time, watch this video on the Mission for more information:

2009 On The House Recipient- Swift School

Swift School works to prepare children with dyslexia and related language-based learning differences to be successful in life. Swift School is where success with dyslexia starts.

Matchstic positioned the SWIFT School brand around the term dyslexia. Dyslexia is an umbrella term referencing most language-based learning differences. It was also easier to remember and gave SWIFT some much-needed focus. Matchstic also removed the word “The” in the title from “The Swift School” to just “SWIFT School.” “The” was unnecessary and only weakened the more important words.

SWIFT School believes potential is more powerful than dyslexia. Matchstic chose to visually depict the hope that parents need. SWIFT School is synonymous with hope for kids with dyslexia and helps them to be successful in life. A star represents hope, belief, achievement and success. The color choice of blue is more appropriate than the original hunter green for aligning with hope. The star is unique to SWIFT and contains a hidden “S” inside of it communicating the idea of hidden potential.

SWIFT School’s rebrand has been featured in various local Atlanta outlets including the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Good Day Atlanta and Cox Curry & Associates Review. The new brand identity was officially launched at the International Dyslexia Association-Georgia’s “Dimensions of Dyslexia” conference on February 20, 2010.

2008 On The House Recipient- City Church

City Church was birthed out of a desire to build a strong, service-oriented church in eastside city neighborhoods in Atlanta, just down the street from the Matchstic house. Twenty years ago when it seemed everyone left the inner-city, several churches that served the city went away also. In 2006, the city of Atlanta grew for the first time during that long period and the need for churches that serve the community became apparent. After sifting through many applications and interviewing three candidates, Matchstic voted and chose City Church Eastside as the first ever On The House pro bono client for 2008.

The vision of City Church-Eastside is not to be a big church, but to be a local serving church that grows and multiplies as neighborhoods grow and multiply. Matchstic consulted on the church’s name, created a brand identity and helped formulate the brand strategy that would tie the church to its community.

Matchstic's goal was to develop a brand identity that fit the vision of the City Church brand and create a name that is scalable to multiple locations.

The strategy was to chose a logo that represented a neighborhood. The cross is actually a small picture of two cross streets with houses at each end.

Since then City Church has been dedicated to serving the neighborhoods in East Atlanta. Just an example of their commitment, they held a neighborhood garage sale bringing in $3,000 during one Saturday alone to benefit a local fire station that was suffering economically.

If you are interested in being a partner, getting more involved, or learning more about On The House email us at here. Here's to transforming the city on brand at a time!

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