First SA world heritage site rebrands

ODC was briefed by the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority to develop a new identity that would celebrate the new name, as well as communicate iSimangaliso's uniqueness to local and global travellers.

iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority CEO Andrew Zaloumis explains: “There were numerous factors that needed to be taken into consideration by ODC, including iSimangaliso's World Heritage values of uniqueness, spirituality and a sense of place, the perfect balance and proportions within nature, the role that various people and cultures have played and continue to play within iSimangaliso, and the interaction of people with nature and the balance – the yin and yang – between the two.”

ODC collaborated closely with the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority and consulted with key stakeholders to develop the new identity, which was launched in 1 November 2008 last year, and has been rolled out into a host of administrative and marketing collateral.

Currently, the ODC team are developing signage and park furniture (benches, tables, lights and bollards).

ODC creative director Alexis Visser says his team truly appreciates the honour associated with working on a world heritage site. Added to that was the opportunity to research the brief and tasks in beautiful and unspoilt surroundings.

“The challenge of this project has been to work within the environmental constraints of a world heritage site. Anything manmade that is introduced into the area needs to blend into the environment and in this case needs to be low maintenance, animal and people proof!”

Adds Zaloumis, “Our new identity is merely a symbol of what our brand should ultimately stand for, and this can only be created through effective marketing communication, service and product achieved over time. The iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority is committed to working hard to ensure that iSimangaliso is one of our country's premier tourist attractions and serves as a beacon for other world heritage sites.”

South Africa's full list of UNESCO world heritage sites includes (dates indicate when they received their WHS status):

• Fossil Hominid Sites of Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, Kromdraai and Environs (1999, 2005)
  
• iSimangaliso Wetland Park (1999)
  
• Robben Island (1999)
  
• UKhalamba/Drakensberg Park (2000)
  
• Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape (2003)
  
• Cape Floral Region Protected Areas (2004)
  
• Vredefort Dome (2005)
  
• Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape (2007)