In 2015, we were commissioned to develop a comprehensive website solution for the Alliance of Forest Fire Compacts (AFFC), a pioneering organization in forest fire protection and mutual aid between U.S. states and Canadian provinces. The AFFC’s mission—to facilitate cooperation in fire management and resource sharing across 43 U.S. states and nearly all Canadian provinces and territories—called for a dual-purpose website. This platform needed to serve both as a public-facing source of information and as a secure, members-only area for sharing critical resources and documents among compact members.
The website was designed with two main sections: an outward-facing site for public education on forest fire prevention and AFFC initiatives, and a private section where compact members could securely upload and access essential documents. To further professionalize AFFC’s image, we proposed a new logo, capturing the essence of the AFFC’s work and values. The logo uses a deep blue to symbolize trust and honor, while a flame-shaped outline represents the commitment of members to safeguarding forests. A pine tree within the design symbolizes the forest itself, accompanied by a star and maple leaf to represent the United States and Canada, respectively. Additionally, the sunrise/sunset motif symbolizes the tireless hours spent by AFFC members in protecting natural resources.
This design solution reflects the AFFC’s mission to advance collaboration across regional boundaries, embodying a longstanding tradition of forest fire prevention and international cooperation that began with the first Interstate Forest Fire Compact established by Congress in 1949.
Logo Breakdown
A – The shade of blue stands for trust and honor.
B – The inner Outline is in the shape of a flame.
C – Sunrise/Sunset represents the tireless hours workers fight to protect the forests.
D – The pine tree symbolizes the forest.
E – Star is representative of the U.S.
F – Maple Leaf is representative of Canada.
