Same mission, new vibe
Alex Symington
Neighbourgood is one year old, which feels amazing. Time really does fly when you’re having fun.
This past year has been transformative. Not just in terms of the partnerships we’ve built and the impact we’ve helped create, but in how we understand our role in the corporate social responsibility landscape.
To celebrate our first birthday, we’re unveiling a refreshed brand that reflects our growth, our learnings, and our vision for how businesses can create meaningful social impact.
As we mark this milestone, we wanted to share the story behind our brand refresh and why we chose to draw inspiration from an unexpected source – the early days of the internet and 90s arcade culture.
This isn’t just a visual makeover, it’s a strategic evolution that captures everything we’ve learned about authentic partnership building in the corporate social responsibility space.
Why we drew inspiration from 90s arcade culture for our brand refresh
Our brand refresh draws from the early days of digital culture. The formative years when the internet was still about discovery, when arcade spaces fostered genuine community, and when connection happened organically rather than algorithmically. This might seem like an unconventional choice for a CSR agency, but we see the parallels.
In those early digital spaces, success wasn’t measured by how many people you could reach or how viral you could go. It was about showing up authentically, finding your people, and building something meaningful together. The memorable experiences weren’t about winning every game, they were about the connections you made, the communities that formed around shared interests, and the genuine excitement of discovery.
This philosophy directly mirrors what we’ve learned about effective corporate social responsibility over our first year in business.
The most impactful CSR initiatives we’ve witnessed share remarkable similarities with those early digital communities. They’re not driven by superficial metrics or fleeting trends. Instead, they emerge when businesses show up authentically, align with causes that genuinely reflect their values, and commit to building something meaningful with their community partners.
Just as those 80s and 90s arcade spaces created lasting connections through shared purpose and genuine interaction, the most successful CSR partnerships are built on mutual understanding, shared goals, and authentic collaboration. They’re not about being everywhere for everyone, they’re about being present, purposeful, and committed to the right communities and causes.
Beyond the algorithm: why authenticity matters more than ever
In today’s hyper-connected world, businesses are often pressured to have a presence everywhere, to respond to every social issue, and to demonstrate their values through constant public statements. But our first year has taught us that this approach typically leads to surface-level engagement that satisfies no one and creates little lasting impact.
The 90s digital culture we’ve drawn inspiration from offers a different model. It reminds us that meaningful community building happens through consistent presence, genuine care, and long-term commitment to shared goals. You didn’t need to be the loudest voice to make a difference, you needed to be present, engaged, and genuinely invested in the community you were part of.
This translates directly to CSR strategy. The businesses creating the most meaningful social impact aren’t necessarily those with the biggest campaigns or the most public initiatives. They’re the ones that show up consistently, build genuine relationships with community partners, and commit to long-term change rather than short-term visibility.
The aesthetic meets the strategic
Our visual refresh captures this philosophy through design elements that feel both nostalgic and forward-looking. The pixel-art inspired graphics, the playful colour palette, and the clean, accessible design language all reflect our belief that CSR should be approachable, human, and genuinely engaging.
But these aren’t just aesthetic choices, they’re strategic ones. Every design element reinforces our core message that effective CSR is about authentic connection, not polished perfection. It’s about building relationships that feel genuine and partnerships that create real value for all stakeholders involved.
Community building in the corporate context
The community-building principles that made those early digital spaces so compelling apply directly to modern CSR challenges. Businesses today are essentially community builders, they create ecosystems that include employees, customers, suppliers, local communities, and various stakeholders. The most successful companies understand that their role extends beyond profit generation to community stewardship.
Our brand refresh reflects this understanding. We’re positioning ourselves not just as a CSR consultancy, but as partners in community building. We help businesses understand their role as community members and develop strategies that create genuine value for all stakeholders involved.
The Ripple Effect: small actions, big impact
In the early days of the internet, discovering new hacks, tips, or shortcuts online felt like striking gold, whether it was a hidden feature in a game, a DIY solution, or a clever life trick. What made those moments powerful wasn’t just the knowledge itself, but how freely it was shared. Online forums, message boards, and early communities thrived on generosity, curiosity, and the idea that helping one person often helped many.
At Neighbourgood, we see CSR the same way. Businesses don’t need to fix everything, they just need to identify where they can add real value and share what they know. A small act of support, a smart collaboration, or a commitment to helping one organisation build skills or scale up can spark wider, long-term impact. When businesses act generously and intentionally, those ripple effects create stronger, more connected communities.
Technology as a tool, not a solution
The early internet and arcade culture also teach us about the proper role of technology in community building. Technology was the enabler, not the end goal. The games, the chat rooms, the forums, these were tools that facilitated human connection and community building. The real value was in the relationships and experiences they made possible.
We apply this same philosophy to our CSR work. The measurement tools, digital platforms, and data analytics we use are important enablers, but they’re not the point. The point is the human impact, the community benefits, and the authentic relationships they help our clients build and sustain.
Looking forward
Our brand refresh represents more than a visual evolution, it’s a statement about the future of corporate social responsibility. We believe the future belongs to businesses that understand CSR as community building, that approach social impact with both strategic thinking and genuine care, and that measure success in terms of long-term relationship building rather than short-term visibility.
Just as those early digital communities created lasting value through authentic connection and shared purpose, we’re helping businesses create lasting social impact through strategic partnerships and genuine community engagement.
The arcade culture that inspired our refresh wasn’t about nostalgia, it was about remembering what genuine community building looks like and applying those principles to the modern business landscape. Because in a world of algorithms and engagement metrics, there’s still profound power in showing up authentically, building real relationships, and creating something meaningful together.
