Team
Brand Management
Content Management
Media Buying
Vendor Management
Creative Direction
Art Direction
Copywriting
UX/UI Design
Software Development
35%
Average open rate across all sends
TV
41K
DC residents reached in 2 weeks
Social
10%
Engagement rate across platforms
Political email typically averages 20–25% open rates; social engagement above 3–6% is considered strong for civic accounts. All three channels outperformed category benchmarks.
Washington, DC's At-Large council seat demands a candidate who speaks credibly to every ward — from the affluent precincts of Ward 3 to the historically underserved communities of Wards 7 and 8. Dwight Davis — lifelong Washingtonian, Princeton-educated educator, school principal, nonprofit executive, and minister — needed a brand system and digital presence that could carry his message of systems-level leadership across a fractured, high-competition political landscape, late in the election season.
With DC's first-ever ranked choice voting on the ballot, the campaign faced a dual challenge: building name recognition and mobilizing a citywide base while simultaneously educating 437,000 registered voters on a new electoral mechanism.
Our Approach
Rise X Shine Digital, in collaboration Story ARC Studio developed a comprehensive brand system, a full multi-page campaign website, and an omnichannel marketing strategy grounded in human-centered design principles. The brand was built around Dwight's core insight: DC residents don't need more politics — they need a government that works with them. Every design decision flowed from that proposition.
Campaign Website
The campaign website served as the digital headquarters for Dwight Davis for DC Council At-Large — the single destination where voters could understand his positions, find voting information, get involved, and donate. Rise X Shine Digital designed, built on Framer, and has managed the site end-to-end: information architecture, copywriting, visual design, technical deployment, and ongoing content updates throughout the campaign cycle.
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Site sections across home, issues, about, get involved, voting, and brand guidelines
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Issue areas with full policy depth: education, affordability, accessibility, statehood
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Integrated conversion pathways: vote, volunteer, donate via ActBlue
Brand System
The visual identity centered on a custom "D" mark — a letterform with a ribbon that encircles and unifies the District, signaling Dwight's native status and his commitment to every corner of DC. The system was built for full-spectrum deployment: website, print, digital, broadcast, outdoor, and grassroots organizing.
Content Pillars
Issues and endorsements. Deployed on brand navy to establish authority and community voice across social channels.
Election education. Ranked choice voting explainers on brand green, targeting first-time RCV voters across all eight wards.
Events
Canvassing, town halls, and community appearances. Templated for fast, consistent production.
Deliverables
Full brand identity system — logo suite (horizontal, stacked, mark-only, text-only), color palette, typography, and usage guidelines
Campaign website — designed, built, and managed by Rise X Shine Digital; full-site information architecture, copywriting, and responsive layout across all sections
Brand style guide published as a living digital reference for campaign staff and vendors
Social media templates across three content pillars (DC Speaks, Vote Smart DC, Events) with animated motion deliverables
HTML email template — WCAG-accessible, cross-client compatible (Outlook, Gmail), optimized for 35%+ open rates
Consolidated contact database merging ActBlue donor contributions and campaign contact list into a unified record set
Television campaign reaching 41,500 Washington, DC residents over a 2-week broadcast window
Outdoor and print materials — posters, yard signs, doorhangers (front and back), and poll-day flyers
Ranked choice voting graphics and voter education assets for ward-level community distribution
Brand Guidelines
Mobile Billboard
Video
Posters/Signs
Flyers
Doorhanger
Front
Back
Poll Flyer
Front
Back
Social
DC Speaks
Vote Smart DC
Events