Built on utopian aspirations for the future, Forward Step is a non-profit organization based in Los Angeles that is dedicated to helping people take a forward step in their lives by creating an environment for learning that encourages the development of each individual's potential.

"Imagine a world where work is joyous, where everyone performs at their highest potential, doing what they love to do, while actualizing themselves and making valuable contributions to the global community. Forward Step undertakes to make personal growth, human development, compassion and understanding the central focuses of individual and social life, so that governments, institutions, businesses and communities naturally and actively serve advancing human and world consciousness."

Upon beginning the development of a brand system for Forward Step, a verynice design studio became interested in the design of a dynamic identity that could communicate this essence of individual growth. Through the process of making and iteration, we developed a typeface out of these generatively stacked blocks.


Creative Director: Matthew Manos
Design: Jessica Lee
Client: Forward Step

HRC seeks to improve the lives of LGBT Americans by advocating for equal rights and benefits in the workplace, ensuring families are treated equally under the law and increasing public support among all Americans through innovative advocacy, education and outreach programs. HRC works to secure equal rights for LGBT individuals and families at the federal and state levels by lobbying elected officials, mobilizing grassroots supporters, educating Americans, investing strategically to elect fair-minded officials and partnering with other LGBT organizations.



For the 2011 gala, themed "NO EXCUSES," we were responsible for leading the branding and design for all materials before and during the event.



Thanks to the open source nature of Processing, we were able to tweak a particle library to re-make the iconic "=" logo of HRC. The particles consist of randomized R, G, and B, creating a rainbow effect that is different every time the software is run.



Creative Director: Matthew Manos
Printing: Irvine Printing
Software: Aart Rost of Open Processing
Thanks: Justin Williams

My Own Business, Inc. exists to support the vital social and economic contributions of small businesses by nurturing entrepreneurship and helping individuals build their own business. MOBI does this by providing proprietary educational coursework that has been prepared by successful entrepreneurs and business owners.



a verynice design studio worked with Phil Holland (former CEO, YumYum Donuts), and Kelvin Ho to design an all new brand identity as well as a newly formated online and offline course. This involved the design of their newly launched website, as well as two 300 page textbooks.



Most recently, we produced a data visualization for the organization in order to make the impressive outreach and accomplishments transparent.



Creative Direction: Bora Shin + Matthew Manos
Brand Identity: Matthew Manos
Book Design: Kate Slovin
Data Visualization: Amy Guterman
Copywriting: Garth Meyer
Web Development: Brian Kerns