Y Chat

Design Ranch faced the challenge of branding and naming a new program initiated by the Kansas City Health Department: a youth violence support call and text line. The task was to create a brand identity and name that would resonate with the target audience of youth in the community, making the support line approachable and inviting for those seeking assistance with difficult situations.

To address this challenge, Design Ranch conducted thorough research, sampling the target audience to gain insights into their preferences and concerns. This led to the creation of the name “Y Chat,” a play on “Youth Chat” and the question “why chat?” The brand identity was crafted to be bright, fun, and highly engaging, featuring vibrant colors and playful sticker-like icons inspired by emojis and text lingo. The custom typeface inside a chat bubble logo reinforced the program’s focus on communication and support. Additionally, the brand language focused on answering the question “why chat,” highlighting the various reasons why youth might reach out for assistance, such as resolving problems, managing conflicts, seeking advice, or sharing stories. By creating an inviting and relatable brand identity, Design Ranch ensured that Y Chat would be perceived as a welcoming space for youth to seek help and support.