Request for Proposals: Logo Redesign and Brand Visibility Refresh

Introduction and Purpose

Founded in 1903, the Canadian Club of Ottawa (CCO) has played a central role in convening national conversations at the heart of Canada’s political capital. For more than a century, the Club has provided a respected, non-partisan forum where elected officials, public servants, business leaders and civil society engage on issues of national importance.

As the CCO approaches its 125th anniversary in 2028, Ottawa’s policy ecosystem is evolving, audiences are changing, and expectations around engagement, accessibility and relevance have shifted. The Club’s Board of Directors has adopted a three-year modernization plan to ensure the Club continues to thrive while honouring its legacy.

This brand visibility refresh is a foundational pillar of that plan. A modernized logo and practical brand guidelines will strengthen how the Club presents itself across every touchpoint, from the podium to the inbox to the website.

The goal is to strengthen and modernize how the CCO’s established mission is presented. The refreshed identity should preserve the Club’s history, carry its legacy forward and serve it for the next 100-plus years.

Scope of Work

The selected proponent will provide:

• A refreshed primary logo, informed by the Club’s history and current positioning, plus a secondary mark or icon if appropriate;
• Logo variations in full colour, single colour and reversed/white, in horizontal and stacked lockups;
• Print-ready and web-ready files: AI/EPS/SVG, PNG/JPG and PDF;
• A concise brand guidelines document covering logo usage and clear space, colour palette with HEX/CMYK/RGB values, typography, imagery and photography style, and clear dos and don’ts; and
• A small set of application mock-ups showing the refreshed identity in use, for example, letterhead, event signage or name badges, a social media template, an email signature and a PowerPoint/Keynote template.

The Club is seeking a practical, well-executed identity refresh. Proponents should recommend an efficient scope and process, clearly identifying the application mock-ups included in their proposal.

Separate Website Redesign RFP

The Club is also issuing a separate Request for Proposals for a website redesign.

Proponents may bid on either project or both. Those bidding on both may submit a coordinated proposal, but must provide separate scopes, timelines and itemized fixed prices for each project.

The Club may award or schedule the projects independently. The selected brand designer will be expected to provide approved files and guidelines and coordinate with the website designer as required.

Qualifications and Proposal Requirements

Proponents should demonstrate strong experience in logo and brand identity design. Experience with nonprofit, membership-based or civic and cultural organizations is preferred but not required.

Proposals should include:

• A brief professional profile;
• Relevant experience and a portfolio of comparable work;
• The proposed creative approach and process, including how the Club will participate in discovery, concept review and revision rounds;
• Expected timeline and turnaround;
• An itemized fixed price;
• Any assumptions, limitations or optional costs; and
• Two relevant references.

Optional deliverables must be clearly identified and priced separately. As a not-for-profit organization, the Club welcomes nonprofit discounts, in-kind contributions and phased-payment options.

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on:

• Quality, relevance and craft of previous work;
• Understanding of the Club’s mission, history and audience;
• Practicality of the proposed approach and realism of the timeline;
• Value and cost-effectiveness;
• Professionalism and reliability; and
• Fit with the Club’s three-year modernization plan and its milestone 125th anniversary in 2028.

Timeline

• Submission deadline: Wednesday, October 21, 2026
• Board selects a proponent by: Wednesday, October 28, 2026
• Preliminary coordination with the VP, Operations and Communications: Early November 2026
• Ideation session and/or presentation of initial concepts to the Board: Thursday, November 19, 2026
• Target project completion: Q1 2027

The selected proponent will coordinate directly with the Vice President of Operations and Communications, who will lead the project on the Club’s behalf.

The Board meets monthly, so its meeting cadence will influence the timing of reviews and approvals.

Submission

Proposals must be submitted electronically by Wednesday, October 21, 2026, to:

Bryan Detchou, VP, Operations and Communications, admin@canadianclubottawa.ca