The Making of the Brand: Higher Key Consulting

Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do at Parklife, and the launch of Higher Key Consulting’s new brand and website is a perfect example of that spirit in action. Built in partnership with founder Emily Ward, the brand captures the clarity, freshness, and natural inspiration that define Emily’s vision for her clients and her company. 

A Higher Calling

Higher Key Consulting (HKC) is more than a business for Emily. It’s a higher calling. After more than 15 years of leadership experience in the corporate world, she felt driven to create a consulting and coaching practice that empowers individuals and organizations to move from confusion to clarity. 

For Emily, the mission is personal: to help others climb from foundational challenges to measurable achievements. Her approach combines strategic insights with proven tools to align direction, goals, and processes. 

Based in Colorado, Emily wanted her brand to capture the natural beauty and grounding presence of her surroundings. The earthy greens and rich tones paired with the tree logo reflect growth, renewal, and strength.

A Collaborative Design Process

To bring this vision to life, all three of Parklife’s designers contributed to the new brand identity. Carly Martinelli sketched the original logo concept, Jess Ledrowski refined it into the final logo design, and Rachel Cameron created the tree element that became a central part of the visual identity.

The result is a mark that feels grounded yet aspirational, anchored in earthy greens and browns, but alive with the sense of upward momentum that defines Higher Key’s purpose. 

“It’s always fun when our designs come together like this,” says Parklife’s Director of Multimedia Marketing Carly Martinelli. “Each of us brought our own perspective, and in the end, the final brand really shows that collaborative energy. It’s fresh, natural, and representative of Emily’s story.”

Freshness, Clarity, and Growth

The new Higher Key website carries those themes throughout. Built with a clean, modern design, the site highlights Emily’s services (one-on-one coaching and project-based consulting) while making it easy for potential clients to book sessions and learn more. 

For Parklife, this project was especially rewarding because it combined our love for storytelling with our love for design collaboration. We believe the best brands are born when vision, purpose, and creativity work hand-in-hand, and Higher Key’s brand is proof of that. 

Looking Ahead

We’re proud to have helped Emily launch Higher Key Consulting with a brand and website that reflect her expertise and higher calling to help others. 

Visit the new Higher Key Consulting website to experience the brand for yourself and learn more about Emily’s mission.