Rosario Anthony Waya

Building a Multilingual Academy from Scratch:

When Salome Yusuf first approached me with her dream of creating a multilingual academy, she had a bold vision but no clear roadmap. Her idea was simple yet profound: to provide top-notch language education that would empower people to break language barriers and connect with the world. However, like many aspiring entrepreneurs, she faced the daunting challenge of transforming her idea into a thriving business.
Salome needed everything—a strong business strategy, a captivating brand identity, and an operational framework that would make her academy stand out in the competitive language education space. That’s where I came in.

The Challenge

Salome’s vision was ambitious: to establish Syntyche Language Academy (SLA) as a premier language school in Nigeria within six months. The academy needed to attract its first 50 customers, create a compelling brand, and operate efficiently—all with limited resources.

Crafting a Brand That Speaks Volumes

The heart of SLA’s transformation lay in building a strong and memorable brand. I started by diving deep into Salome’s vision and the values of SLA. The academy wasn’t just about teaching languages; it was about connection, understanding, and bridging cultural gaps. This needed to shine through every design element.

The academy wasn’t just about teaching languages; it was about connection, understanding, and bridging cultural gaps.

Logo Design:
The logo became the cornerstone of SLA’s identity. I crafted a crest design, symbolizing academic excellence, alongside bold typography for the acronym "SLA" to ensure it remained professional yet approachable.
Color Palette:
1. Deep Navy Blue: Representing professionalism, trust, and a sense of academic authority.
2. Soft Cream White: Adding an approachable, welcoming tone to balance the seriousness of the crest.
3. Accent Red: Used sparingly for key callouts, symbolizing passion, energy, and the drive to learn.
Typography:
A modern serif font was selected for the full name, "Syntyche Language Academy," evoking sophistication and timelessness, while the bold sans-serif acronym "SLA" conveyed a contemporary, forward-thinking brand.

Strategic Business and Financial Advisory

Branding was just one piece of the puzzle. I worked with Salome to develop sound financial strategies that ensured SLA could operate efficiently from the start. Smart spending decisions were made, prioritizing high-impact initiatives that would quickly build trust and credibility.

Operational processes were designed to streamline customer inquiries, course enrollment, and payments, creating a smooth and professional experience for both staff and students.

The outcome

In just six months, SLA evolved from a concept to a fully operational academy. The brand’s striking visual identity set it apart in the market, while the strong operational framework helped secure the first 50 customers. Today, SLA stands as a beacon for language learning in Nigeria, embodying its mission of connecting people through language and culture. For me, this project was a reminder of the power of design. It’s not just about creating something beautiful; it’s about crafting an identity that resonates with the audience and helps a business achieve its goals.