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De Vakwerkers

De Vakwerkers - Image 1

The Challenge:

De Vakwerkers had the skills and the ambition but no professional brand presence; no website, visual identity, or structured way to attract B2B clients. Then, midway through building their brand, their entire workshop at Keilewerf 1 burned to the ground. They lost all equipment, materials, and ongoing projects with no insurance possible due to the building's fire safety classification. Suddenly, the challenge shifted from building a brand to saving a business.

The Solution:

We developed a complete brand identity and digital presence from the ground up: website, visual identity, professional collateral, and branded apparel. When the fire hit, we pivoted immediately: producing a crowdfunding campaign video, rewriting their website as a crisis response hub, and executing a strategic launch plan across all channels to help De Vakwerkers find a new workspace, secure donations, and attract new commissions.

The Case

What began as a branding project evolved into something much deeper. By understanding De Vakwerkers beyond their initial design needs, we delivered a solution that didn't just present them professionally, but helped them survive a devastating setback and emerge strongly. We are proud to have helped Rotterdam craftsmen turn their darkest moment into a resilient comeback.

De Vakwerkers

Today, De Vakwerkers operates from a new workshop, equipped and ready for business. With a complete brand identity, a professional website, and a suite of branded materials, they attract the calibre of clients their craftsmanship deserves. More than that, the crowdfunding campaign demonstrated the strength of community support, and the brand we built together tells a story of resilience that resonates with every new client who finds them.

Brand identity and website

De Vakwerkers needed a professional digital presence that would attract B2B clients and reflect the quality of their craftsmanship: moving beyond word-of-mouth to a scalable brand.

What we did:

  • Developed a complete visual identity including logo, colour palette, and typography, guided by brand values

  • Designed and built a responsive website serving as their digital portfolio with pages for cases, services, about, and contact

  • Wrote all website copy

  • Implemented SEO fundamentals, Google Analytics, and contact forms

  • Created a design system that extends consistently across all digital and physical touchpoints

website screenshots

Professional collateral and branded materials

Beyond the website, De Vakwerkers needed a cohesive physical presence: materials that their B2B clients could hold and see on-site.

What we did:

  • Designed business cards reflecting the brand's refined, craftsmanship-focused identity

  • Created invoice and quotation templates maintaining brand consistency in every client interaction

  • Developed branded hoodies and apparel, produced with custom announcement videos for social media

  • Designed branded stickers for tools, packaging, and finished products

  • Created a car wrap design, turning their work vehicle into a mobile advertisement

  • Produced a workshop banner for their new location

  • Designed custom email signatures for the founders

  • Set up social media profiles with branded assets across LinkedIn and Instagram

Crisis response: crowdfunding campaign

When the fire at Keilewerf 1 destroyed everything, De Vakwerkers needed immediate help. Within days, we shifted from brand building to crisis communication, producing a campaign designed to secure three things: donations, a new workspace, and commitments for future work.

What we did:

  • Wrote and produced a crowdfunding video: scripted to balance emotional honesty with De Vakwerkers' resilient, slightly self-deprecating tone

  • Coordinated a full video shoot at Keilewerf 1, including drone aerial footage of the fire damage, on-location interviews, and B-roll of the aftermath

  • Rewrote the entire website homepage as a crisis response hub with three clear calls-to-action: donate, suggest a workspace, and commission new work

  • Wrote adapted copy for Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn, each tailored to platform tone and audience

  • Identified potential amplifiers: local businesses, influencers, fellow Keilewerf tenants, and community figures to maximise reach

Results and impact:

The transformation delivered meaningful results:

  • Complete brand identity and digital presence built from scratch

  • Successful crowdfunding campaign enabling De Vakwerkers to secure a new workshop

  • Professional collateral suite spanning 10+ branded touchpoints

  • Strategic crisis response executed within days of the fire

Beyond metrics, our work gave De Vakwerkers something more valuable: the confidence that their brand matches the quality of their craftsmanship and help in surviving a crisis that could have ended the business entirely.

De Vakwerkers | sixtynine.agency