unformist

We are firm believers that to make great work, you’ve got to see what else is out there. So for research’s sake (and it happened to be Tyler’s birthday), we drove up to One Paseo; a new shopping center in Del Mar Heights to see what we could find.

In contrast to many of the other shopping centers in the San Diego area, One Paseo is generously spaced and styled more like a suburban sprawl than a strip mall from the 90s. In addition to spruced-up standard tenant signage, One Paseo also sports large murals, unexpectedly fun environmental color treatments, and unique wayfinding signage. The district feels like shopping should. Not a center for hustle and bustle, but like a cool place to be and, oh yeah, they sell stuff here too.

The office loved the experimental wall treatments and the transportive nature of the space. However, the highlight of the day by far was our pit stop at North Italia for lunch. We even split a dessert. It was Tyler’s birthday after all.

From serene lake views to winding landscaped roads, a dated lakeside community was in need of revitalization. With the renovation of Lakehouse Hotel & Resort as the catalyst, followed by Decoy Dockside, St. Mark Executive and Community Golf Courses and Tap-In Tavern, HollisBC stepped in to refresh and reinvest in the community and celebrate the unexpected!

As stewards of an underserved community, we had an opportunity to provide enriched amenities and services that ultimately served as a foundation for the housing boom that ensued. This little-known lakeside community now features one of the top 25 hotels in America and has quickly emerged as an inviting, easily accessible Southern California destination.

Hollis Brand Culture was tasked to reevaluate existing BRIC arrival signage as well as enhance the current and future arrival conditions with the development of the Intercontinental Hotel. Illuminated ground signs with perforated art panels reflect the existing sculptural public work, while banners and wayfinding totems reinforce the BRIC brand as well as guide the public through the various restaurants and retail attractions along San Diego’s Embarcadero. 

Greystar teamed up with HollisBC to create a positive user experience for this tech-savvy University of Maryland student housing project. U/View amplifies perspective and fuels potential via a hyper-connected community. HollisBC crafted a cohesive story, including naming, positioning and identity in tandem with space planning, programming and a complete interior overhaul as well as exterior signage and wayfinding experience. 

Lights, camera, action! As part of an ever changing midway experience at San Diego’s popular tourist attraction, Belmont Park, HollisBC transformed a dated carnival game into a futuristic photo booth. The existing canopy structure was repurposed as the foundation for a fresh abstract paint treatment. Multiple layers of painted, printed and routed exterior grade MDF panels were built on top to create an engaging art installation. Say cheese!

As part of a worldwide movement to take back the streets and promote public spaces for people, Hollis Brand Culture designed, developed and built a dynamic outdoor structure celebrating art in the great outdoors. The parklet offered an alternative space to work, chill and play. To promote the event, a live button station was setup to make and handout to curious onlookers.

Bringing awareness to San Diego’s homelessness, United Way and Home Again teamed with HollisBC to develop a public exhibition featuring success stories and vital statistics in the fight to end chronic homelessness. Home Again is based on the “Housing First” model, proving across many cities that it truly does costs less to care.

Identity System: Fashion savvy and sweet, energizing and always evolving, D’lush required a flexible brand presence and style guide that would move with the times. Clean, modern typography and stainless steel provide the backdrop for an eclectic yet balanced signage program.

Brand Campaign: More than just a café, smoothie place, or a juice bar, D’lush blends the best of all drinks in a mix of delectable hot and cold offerings. Vivid, enticing photography was used to create a savory campaign of color and taste. Summed up as “MTV in a glass”, D’lush has quickly become a healthy favorite endorsed by Hollywood celebs including, Mitchel Musso, fitness guru Harley Pasternak and Weeds star Mary-Louise Parker.