What We Stand For.

Behind every project lies a set of beliefs about how change happens, and the individuals who effect that change. These people and beliefs guide how we design experiences that move others to care and act.

Mission

To deliver empathy-driven strategy and design that helps mission-focused clients create real impact, while operating as a carbon-negative studio committed to leaving the world a better place because we are part of it

Values

Be better

Continuous improvement is our way of life. We embrace curiosity, learning, and collaboration to deliver the best outcomes for our clients, our team, and the causes we champion.

We give a sh!t

We care deeply about making a positive and lasting impact. Whether it’s the success of our clients, the well-being of our team, or the change we want to see in the world, we show up with passion and purpose.

Empathy first

Empathy is at the heart of everything we do. By truly understanding the people we work with and for, we create solutions that connect people and inspire action.

We say, "Why not?"

We thrive on creativity and bold thinking. By challenging assumptions and taking risks, we uncover possibilities that others might miss.

Vision

A world where strategic design drives positive action, empowering every organization to thrive and make a lasting impact on the communities they serve

TL;DR: Beacon makes the world a better place for all.

Values

Be better

Continuous improvement is our way of life. We embrace curiosity, learning, and collaboration to deliver the best outcomes for our clients, our team, and the causes we champion.

We give a sh!t

Empathy first

Empathy is at the heart of everything we do. By truly understanding the people we work with and for, we create solutions that connect people and inspire action.

We say, "Why not?"

We thrive on creativity and bold thinking. By challenging assumptions and taking risks, we uncover possibilities that others might miss.

How it all began

2000

Dani Vachon graduates from design school.

2000–2001

Dani works in a traditional agency

Cluster of white alstroemeria flowers with pink streaks and green leaves.

Dani works in a traditional agency environment, building confidence in professional design systems and collaboration.

Branch with seven green leaves on a transparent background.

2001–2003

Dani produces and promotes live music

Dani produces and promotes live music and cultural events (including WHAP! Productions at Mesa Luna in Vancouver), developing real-world experience in logistics, marketing, and audience engagement.

2004-2008

Dani co-founds and operates

Dani co-founds and operates Sealed With a Kiss Inc., combining creative direction, event production, and independent business ownership.

2005

Dani executive produces the album

Dani executive produces the album Hit the Floor! by You Say Party!, founds the record label (Sound Document), and serves as the band's personal manager—a foray into branding, management, and cultural storytelling.

2009–2012

Dani co-founds and operates

Dani co-founds and operates Olio Festival, a multi-day, multi-disciplinary arts and music festival—featuring 50 events across five days and attracting over 10,000 attendees—sharpening her leadership, fundraising, sponsorship, and large-scale operations and project management skills.

2010-2012

Dani supports the launch

Dani supports the launch of three live music venues in Vancouver, BC, including the Gastown mainstay, Guilt & Co.

2013

Dani founds The Beacon Design Collective

Dani founds The Beacon Design Collective as an independent design studio rooted in clarity, craft, and values-driven work, along with a group of creatives, including Matt Turner who is still with the team today.

2015

City of Vancouver Zero Waste campaign

Cluster of white flowers with pink-striped petals and green leaves on a stem.

Beacon leads the strategic design of the City of Vancouver Zero Waste campaign, Beacon’s first high-profile public-sector project and a defining moment in our commitment to environmental and social good. Carlie Russelle begins working with Beacon as a contractor, contributing to illustrations across early client projects.

Branch with eight green leaves against a transparent background.

2016

Beacon hires its first employee

Beacon hires its first employee, Michan Rosen, who starts in administration and bookkeeping.

2018

Communication Workers of America union

Beacon redesigns political activist training materials for the Communication Workers of America union, solidifying Beacon’s expertise in large-scale publication and training design. This was our first project for a U.S.-based organization. Dani receives business and leadership coaching from this year onward.

2020

Beacon incorporates

Beacon incorporates. We hire Jaz Rodriguez, a beloved designer. Leveraging her web design skills, we reintroduce web design as a service.

2021

Beacon incorporates

Beacon begins zealously planting trees and is certified as a platinum business with Green Business Benchmark.

2022

Beacon becomes a creative partner

Beacon becomes a creative partner to the Otipemisiwak Métis Government (representing the Métis Nation within Alberta). This is Beacon’s first retainer client and a catalyst for sustained growth. Michan Rosen, our first employee, transitions into graphic design. We become accredited with the Better Business Bureau (A+ rating). We win our first design award from WOLDA for our work on Mountain Kids Outfitters.

2023

Beacon’s team and service

Beacon’s team and service offerings expand significantly as long-term partnerships replace one-off project work as our main source of revenue. We are certified as a diverse supplier with the Women Business Enterprises Canada Council (WBE Canada). Our work on the District of 100 Mile House’s resiliency tool, A Path Forward, wins the BC Economic Development award.

2024

Carlie Russelle joins Beacon

Carlie Russelle joins Beacon as a full-time, permanent employee after nearly a decade of collaboration as a contractor. Matt Turner transitions from long-time contract writer, editor, and strategist into a full-time role as account manager and client strategist. Beacon wins the Vega Gold for Illustration for our work on Being Métis Makes Me Happy, a children’s book. We win the Design Masterprize award for print publications for our work on Building Resilient Organizations, an illustrated workbook.

2025

We celebrate a significant revenue

We celebrate a significant revenue milestone by taking the Beacon team to Sayulita, Mexico for a company retreat. We achieve Webby honouree status for our work on the For a Loving Future motion graphics animation, and win the WOLDA Gold for the logo design. We land Dani’s dream client: The Nature Conservancy of Canada.

Projects that mark our growth

COV Zero Waste Campaign [2015]

In 2015, Beacon partnered with the City of Vancouver (COV) on its Zero Waste campaign, marking a pivotal moment in our growth. It was our first high-profile public-sector project and the first time our work aligned so clearly with our environmental values. We helped shape the initiative’s visual identity and public experience, including through a large-scale, street-facing, vinyl infographic spanning a Broadway pop-up space. We also created the event’s promotional materials, supporting signage and volunteer apparel, and developed a custom icon system. More than a campaign, this project clarified and catalyzed our company's direction. It was the moment we leaned into design that would educate, influence behaviour, and contribute meaningfully to environmental and social good.

CWA Political Activist Training Materials [2018]

In 2018, Beacon partnered with the Communication Workers of America (CWA) union to redesign their political activist training materials—a project that significantly expanded our strategy, project delivery, and design capabilities. The existing materials lacked clear structure and visual engagement, making them difficult to use in practice. We reworked the training system from the ground up, creating a clearer, more intuitive framework and a visual language better aligned with end users' needs and goals. The scope ultimately grew to more than 700 pages, pushing us to master long-form publication design, improve InDesign workflows, and deliver tighter project management. This project sparked our love for complex training and educational materials, a practice area we continue to build on today.

The Otipemisiwak Métis Government [2022-present]

In 2022, Beacon became a creative partner to the Otipemisiwak Métis Government (representing the Métis Nation within Alberta), a relationship that has transformed our business. We were engaged to help brand its Children and Family Services (CFS) department, and we developed a suite of illustrated characters that remain in use today. This partnership marked Beacon’s first retainer client, fundamentally changing how our company has grown and operates. Since then, our work with CFS has expanded to include publications, program branding, event materials, signage, vehicle wraps, animations, videos, social campaigns, and children’s books, including an award-winning title recognized with a Vega Gold Award. And as the CFS and the Métis Nation has grown, so too has Beacon. Working alongside them has been both professionally and personally meaningful, a great source of pride for our team, and an act of reconciliation.

Volunteers in blue shirts sorting food items in boxes at a community food bank or charity event.

Impact and transparency

Transparency is central to our approach to making and sustaining impact. These metrics reflect our commitment to ethical practices, environmental responsibility, and continuous improvement.

235

of staff paid above
living wage

1,700

tonnes

annual emissions offset/drawn down, more than 5,400 times our operational emissions of 313 kilograms per year

125.1

Score on B Impact Assessment

Cluster of white flowers with pink streaks and green leaves on a short stem.

Single green palm leaf branch with long narrow leaflets against a transparent background.