Designing a Scholarship Brochure That Works
We believe great design goes beyond looks; it’s about making information clear and functional. When the admissions team at St Jo’s handed us a very long Word document, our role was to distil the complex information and present it in a way that would be easy to navigate and inform of the true value of a scholarship award.
Scholarships are essential for accessibility in independent schools, but they’re more than just financial aid. They represent recognition, expectation, and opportunity something we understand as parents who have been through this process ourselves. Choosing a school is an emotional decision; a scholarship represents not just financial support but recognition, expectation and opportunity.
We remember our concerns, wondering how our child would fit in, what the academic pressures would be like, and even the perceptions and associations that come with being a scholar. Would an injury affect a sports scholarship? What support would be available? Transparency and reassurance were vital to us, and we knew this brochure had to provide that same peace of mind, encouragement, and insight to other families.
We focused on creating:
- Clear structure & signposting: Intuitive layouts and quick links for effortless navigation.
- Visual impact: Compelling imagery form our photography archive to inspire and inform.
- Case studies & testimonials: Real stories that illustrate the impact and value of scholarships.
- Infographics & guides: Simple, visual breakdowns of key information.
- Step-by-step timelines: A clear roadmap to guide families through the process.
One of the key challenges in designing the scholarship brochure was ensuring that the information was clear and relevant for both new and existing parents. The process and timeline can differ depending on whether a family is already part of the school community or applying from outside, so it was essential to structure the content in a way that made navigation effortless.
Copy: We introduced a tagline: “Rewarding Excellence and Potential” to highlight merit, promise, and prestige. We re-wrote the brochure copy to distil key messaging and ensure clarity and accessibility. Headlines and sub-headlines were introduced to clearly define the target audience for scholarships and outline the key attributes required. By structuring content into “What We Offer” and “What We Expect” categories, parents and students could easily determine if the opportunity was the right fit for them.
We hope this brochure is a valuable resource that will help families to confidently commit to the process and understand the true value of a scholarship.
View online: https://issuu.com/stjos/docs/sjc_scholarship24_q324_v5?fr=sM2M2NDcwMjA2NTQ
