Design Doyenne: Branding Beyond Design

From Space Needle to Starbucks, Seattle's Hornall Anderson Design Works uses client collaboration and brand extension to stay atop its game. As Margaret Richardson reports, branding is the key.
Written by Margaret Richardson on June 11, 2001
Categories: Web/Mobile, Features

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Let's focus on some of the firm's recent work, some of which is not even on the HADW Web site. Note the diversity in the range of services, products, and approaches.

First, for an art consultant specializing in contemporary Asian art, HADW devised a stationery program for Heavenly Stone (a translation of the client's Chinese name). The identity is rendered in motif of a floating stone and cloud with a hint of red and an aura of the Far East in texture and arrangement.

Taking a cue from the literal translation of the client's name, HADW developed an ethereal logo and elegant promotional materials for a consultant in contemporary Asian art.

One of HADW's favorite projects thus far is the relaunch of the Seattle Space Needle. The challenge was to take this venerable landmark from 1962 World's Fair and reposition its role in the 21st century. The Space Needle team included consultants from the Space Needle Corporation, Callison Architecture, and the branding and naming consultant Tyler Cartier. HADW started by revamping this architectural icon's logo and by devising "sub-brands" relating to each level of the building (observation deck, restaurant, gift shop, etc.). Each section received a distinctive identity but had to work together as an integrated visual experience. HADW also revised the corporate letterhead, devised promotional merchandise applications, designed restaurant collateral and menus, and provided internal and external signage.

To freshen the image of the Seattle Space Needle, HADW created identities for each level of the structure and updated the building's logo, now seen on merchandise from t-shirts to yo-yos.

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