The Dichotomy
Our studio operates in the balance between escapism and presence. When these two concepts exist in harmony, we can create experiences that inspire mindfulness while inciting a sense of awe.
As hoteliers and restauranteurs, you are the architect and visionary of your guests’ experience. With that understanding, we create everything you need to guide them to your property. Storytelling, aesthetics, and a robust strategy are all integral factors in building your customers’ expectations before they arrive at their destination. The development of consistent quality experiences across touchpoints is the foundation of brand awareness - driving loyalty and advocacy which have direct positive impacts on your business.
Brand Axis Framework
Essence & ethics
The first step in hospitality brand development is strategy. In this phase, we identify your brand attributes and archetype, guest personas and dig deep into your raison d'etre. We uncover your closely-held values and what sets you apart in the market. Essence & Ethics represent your long-term goals and unwavering beliefs, serving as a reference point and directional compass for all future brand and business decisions. These are your foundations and blueprint.
This stage is essential as it helps you understand and connect to your guest on a deeper level and vice versa. Design simply for aesthetics is skin-deep; our work ensures your outward presentation and communication style align with your goals, vision and guest expectations. Through this process, your potential guests will get a sense of your principles, level of service and how they will feel when engaging with your brand. Besides the focus on the guest journey, your Essence & Ethics help form a deeper understanding of your brand that influences how you engage with your staff, local community and the natural world around your destination.
A powerful association between guests and their favorite destinations leads to longer stays, increased loyalty, and the creation of earned trust through on-line channels and word of mouth. Perhaps most importantly, you develop profound and enduring relationships with your guests.
Core principles
- - Discovery
- Brand Strategy
- Positioning
- Values, Mission, & Vision
- Guest Personas
Articulation
Once we’ve aligned on the overarching strategy, we move to articulating the core principles of your brand. These are developed through copywriting, messaging and brand language - providing the essential tools and frameworks for communicating your outlook, history and personality.
Your destination’s name, tone of voice and story create the foundational structure your communications and marketing are built around. Clear and articulate messaging helps your guests feel understood and cared for while inspiring them throughout their experience, online and on-site.
Decision-making around travel is a complex system that blends emotional and rational streams of thought. It is important to tap into both thought processes using creative messaging and design strategically throughout the customer journey, especially when those decision-making processes are lengthy, complex and more abstract than usual. The journey guests take with you begins long before their arrival, with your creative messaging and tone of voice playing an important role in awakening inspiration and a sense of wonder.
Narrative
- - Name Development
- Tone of Voice
- Creative Messaging & Copywriting
- Brand Storytelling
SYMBOLS & CODES
The other side of the coin is your brand aesthetic and identity. A visual suite for hospitality brands includes codes and symbols which become recognizable over time when utilized effectively and consistently. They build trust and awareness with your guests while communicating your personality in a visual context, creating a cohesive identity when paired with your messaging and strategy. Covering all online and on-site touchpoints, your brand aesthetic provides consistency and differentiation in the market.
Aesthetic Principles
- - Visual Identity
- Adaptive Logo System
- Creative Direction
- Art Direction / Styling
- Illustration & Iconography
- Typography System
- Motion Language
MANIFESTATIONS & EXPRESSIONS
The final phase of our framework delivers the real-world expression and execution of your brand. A strong strategic direction, key messaging suite, and visual identity come together to create a brand architecture that aligns all online experiences and on-site touchpoints. This includes your digital presence, social media, print materials, signage, and environmental branding.
PRESENCE
- - Brand Standards & Guides
- Social Media Standards
- Print Collateral
- Packaging & Materials
- Environmental Branding
- Wayfinding & Signage
- Web design & Development
Brand Axis Framework
Essence & ethics
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Core principles
- - Discovery
- - Brand Strategy
- - Values / Mission / Vision / Purpose
- - Guest Personas (change words)
Articulation
Vivamus luctus erat eget nisl molestie, nec tincidunt est viverra. Aliquam vitae tellus dapibus, sollicitudin nisl id, varius est. Maecenas ornare quis lectus ut pretium. Duis tempor gravida metus sit amet vehicula. Nam accumsan neque purus, non porttitor quam malesuada efficitur. Curabitur laoreet bibendum placerat. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia curae; Nunc id mauris vitae massa pharetra tempor. Praesent pretium felis eu vehicula luctus.
Narrative
- - Name Development
- - Tone, Creative Messaging & Copywriting
- - Brand Storytelling
SYMBOLS & CODES
Vivamus luctus erat eget nisl molestie, nec tincidunt est viverra. Aliquam vitae tellus dapibus, sollicitudin nisl id, varius est. Maecenas ornare quis lectus ut pretium. Duis tempor gravida metus sit amet vehicula. Nam accumsan neque purus, non porttitor quam malesuada efficitur. Curabitur laoreet bibendum placerat. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia curae; Nunc id mauris vitae massa pharetra tempor. Praesent pretium felis eu vehicula luctus.
Aesthetic Principles
- - Visual Identity
- - Adaptive Logo System
- - Art / Creative Direction
- - Illustration & Iconography
- - Color Palette
- - Typography System
- - Motion Language
MANIFESTATIONS & EXPRESSIONS
Vivamus luctus erat eget nisl molestie, nec tincidunt est viverra. Aliquam vitae tellus dapibus, sollicitudin nisl id, varius est. Maecenas ornare quis lectus ut pretium. Duis tempor gravida metus sit amet vehicula. Nam accumsan neque purus, non porttitor quam malesuada efficitur. Curabitur laoreet bibendum placerat. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia curae; Nunc id mauris vitae massa pharetra tempor. Praesent pretium felis eu vehicula luctus.
Core principles
- - Discovery
- - Brand Strategy
- - Values / Mission / Vision / Purpose
- - Guest Personas (change words)
Our studio offers a home to hospitality brands with a shared vision and set of values. If you’re looking for creative support and strategic guidance on the journey to a thriving business, we’d love to hear from you.
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