For every Parkinson’s journey: our brand refresh
We’re excited to reveal our refreshed brand, developed with the Parkinson’s community.
Since our last refresh 5 years ago, and our rebrand 15 years ago, the Parkinson's community has shown its strength and unity. We're so proud to be part of it.
Things have changed a lot in the last 5 years. The cost of living crisis and pandemic have been tough for everyone. But for people with Parkinson's, this has led to huge impacts on their health. And so, their priorities have changed.
We listened and recognised we needed to shift our focus to make sure we continue to be there for every person with Parkinson’s and those who love and care for them.
Making a difference, now
Our previous brand refresh was focused on campaigning and making people aware of what it’s like to live with Parkinson’s. This was important to focus on, as Parkinson’s is a complex, and often misunderstood, condition. But community feedback has made it clear that living well with the condition right now is most important to people with Parkinson’s. Our new strategy, and our brand, needed to reflect this.
For 55 years we have provided information and support to the Parkinson’s community, but not everyone knows we are here for them or what we offer. Our brand refresh means we can be more accessible and relevant to everyone in the Parkinson’s community, from people with Parkinson’s, family, friends and carers, to scientists and health and social care professionals.
We exist to make every day better, for everybody living with Parkinson’s
Our new approach brings us back to our roots. Our journey began with Mali Jenkins. Mali’s sister, Sarah, had Parkinson’s. When Mali looked for information about the condition, she didn’t find anything helpful. But she didn’t give up. Mali reached out to others living with Parkinson’s to share experiences.
That need for information and support is still as relevant today as it was 55 years ago. That’s why we’re campaigning for better health and care. Funding research into groundbreaking new treatments. Running life-changing support services.
Our new logo incorporates a tulip symbol, which represents a tulip variety developed by Dutch horticulturist J.W.S. Van der Wereld. He named the tulip after Dr James Parkinson who published ‘An Essay on the Shaking Palsy’ in 1817, which recognised Parkinson’s as a medical condition for the first time.
Our new strapline, ‘For every Parkinson’s journey’, tells everyone that we are here for them, no matter who they are or where they are in their Parkinson’s journey. Together with that community, we’re a united movement of people living with Parkinson’s across the UK. We share one mission: to make life with Parkinson’s better, today.
To reach more people in the Parkinson’s community, accessibility influenced how our refreshed brand looks and sounds. Accessibility means removing barriers to accessing information about us, the support we offer and our services.
Our new font, Parkinsans, is an accessible typeface created especially for us and for the community to use. And our brand colours have been developed to make sure our materials are more visually accessible.
How we involved the Parkinson’s community
More than 1,000 members of the Parkinson’s community were consulted and involved in our brand refresh. We:
- attended local group meetings in Glasgow, Nottingham, Belfast, Richmond, and Llandudno
- sent out 2 online surveys to get feedback on 2 initial design options
- spoke to Parkinson’s UK members at our AGM in Birmingham
- had an involvement group, made up of people with Parkinson’s, healthcare professionals, and researchers, who worked alongside us.
The community was involved in the whole process, from helping us decide which design approach to take, to giving us feedback on possible new straplines.
Throughout the process, we worked with Red Stone and Mark Radda, specialists in charity brand strategy, accessibility and creative design. They helped us bring together the wants and needs of the Parkinson’s community.
Barrie Smith, Gina Youngman and John Hinson, who all have Parkinson’s and volunteer for us, took part in our involvement group.
Barrie said:
“I am one of the people with lived experience of Parkinson's involved in the brand refresh programme. Not only was it inspiring, it reminded me that Parkinson’s UK has always used that experience in an appropriate manner, ultimately respecting our views and enabling our voices to be heard.
“So to me, the new brand represents and symbolises, respect, dignity, and hope until there is a cure.”
Gina said:
“I feel very privileged to be involved, to be able to represent people with Parkinson's at ground roots level.
“I've learnt a lot from this process and now look at branding in a different way, with more understanding of its aims and values and appreciation for all the hard work that goes into producing the final brand.”
John said:
“So much thought and time has gone into getting something so important right and fit for purpose. I’m proud and delighted that my small contribution was listened to and considered.”
Juliet Tizzard, Director of External Relations at Parkinson’s UK, said:
“We’re so grateful to Barrie, Gina and John, and so many more people in our community, for helping to shape our refreshed brand.
“Their involvement gives us the confidence that we are doing the right thing: creating a brand which shows that we are a strong and supportive community, determined in our mission to have a positive impact on the lives of people with Parkinson's today.”
See more of our refreshed brand
We’re grateful to everyone from the Parkinson’s community who’s given their time and expertise during our brand refresh. Thanks to you, we can be there for every Parkinson’s journey.
Watch our video to see the brand you've shaped.