Portland Means Progress provides resources and supports businesses taking action to increase prosperity through diversity and equity. So when the City of Portland approached us with the task of clarifying this important social responsibility initiative, we turned to Portland’s collaborative ethos for inspiration, starting with naming the initiative itself.
A nod to the familiar phrase “we mean business,” the name Portland Means Progress conveys commitment, growth, and prosperity. It implies, “let’s get to work,” inspiring action and a sense of future opportunity.
Colloquial and confident in nature, the Portland Means Progress brand and messaging is approachable, optimistic, and inherently active.
Public campaign messaging and copy uses active verbs to directly and concisely state objectives and requirements, as well as CTAs and high level aspirational messages in the present or future-tense.