Our cause

is our code.

BNO started our employer brand development process by developing a competitive analysis, carrying out focus groups and IDIs on the internal level, and finally using all of this preliminary research to develop a core strategy towards attracting and retaining talent. I was a part of the strategic research portion of this effort by leading the creative competitive analysis.

After our research was completed, we started in on writing and visually developing a wide breadth of taglines and initial graphic concepts, shown below. We landed on Our Cause Is Our Code, which speaks the employee purpose, company mission, and technological innovation that’s at the heart of Thorn.

We used “code” as a bridge between the tech itself and the mission, tying together the two qualities that stood out most in our research. It let us highlight something that really sets Thorn apart from big tech: the genuine passion and commitment of the people who work there. The mirrored rainbow across both faces in the visuals shows the direct impact employees—and future candidates—can have on the children they’re protecting. Showing the employee as a kind of protector underscores the idea that this isn’t just cutting-edge tech work; it’s meaningful, purpose-driven work.

When we concluded work on the Thorn employer brand, our client team went forth into recruitment with a new anthem video, careers site, a series of social posts, blog strategy and stories, and enhanced job descriptions. The emotional response we received was an incredible part of this project, and reflected our true purpose as marketers right back to us.

In 2021, Thorn reached out to BNO and offered the opportunity to help them develop their employer brand.

Thorn is the philanthropic brainchild of Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore. In 2012, both actors founded Thorn in an attempt to try to reduce the amount of child sex abuse material, or CSAM, that was available on the internet. Those who work at Thorn are incredibly passionate about what they do, and that pervasive sense of purpose bleeds into every single area of employee life.

Strategy: George Jackus, Christine Sainato, Shawna Boals
Creative Director: Stephanie Widrig
Copywriter: Ronald Wacchino