Circle Fiber

As a startup facing stiff competition from the national telecoms, Circle needed to make a name for itself and establish a ​​dedicated brand platform. At the time, it even needed a name. What would become Circle was pitched to us by Big River Communications, a well-established phone company in Jackson, Missouri. So we got to work thinking about how to bring this revolutionary brand online.

We started by meeting with the Big River team for a discovery session, where we learned what they had planned for the product. The big companies, they said, had fallen asleep at the wheel: higher costs, poor speeds and even poorer customer service. They wanted to introduce a network that felt revolutionary, not only in its speed but also in its people. The first step was delving into internet branding — the next, taking on a custom-built website.

The Circle logo proved to be a worthy challenge for our design team. After all, how do you elevate such a fundamental shape? We explored everything from the overly simple to the incredibly intricate in pursuit of a mark that would resonate with the brand’s principles.

Ultimately, we moved forward with a mark composed of smaller circles arranged in a grid inside one larger circle. We admired its symbolism for togetherness and connection. We paired it with a color palette of bright greens and blues — an internet branding move that strikes a much friendlier tone than the more austere colors used by Circle’s competitors.

Ahead of Circle’s launch, we partnered with the Big River team to take a critical look at the company’s sales portal that would accompany its custom-built website. The portal would house the customer’s journey to signing up for service, so it required thought and consideration at every step. Our creative and web teams collaborated on a brand platform experience that funnels customers through the process in a clear, compelling way. We borrowed from our experience designing e-commerce storefronts, particularly focusing on ways to improve engagement and reduce abandoned carts.

We also took the lead on Circle’s public-facing website. Recognizing the team’s strategy for a gradual rollout, we followed an iterative approach to the website, starting with a single, multi-purpose landing page and growing it into a more fully baked website. We translated all the key elements of Edgeium’s internet branding, from its friendly tone to its distinct colors, onto the website. Given the brand’s particular emphasis on simplicity, we set out to make its custom-built website a highly intuitive, inviting experience for users.

With all major assets of its brand platform in place, we began planning for Circle’s launch promotions. Circle is all about simple, direct communication — so direct mail was a perfect place to start. We designed door hangers and postcards to be distributed throughout Jackson. After those materials were deployed, the Circle sales team followed up in person with residents to answer any questions they had.