Houlihan Lokey is a global investment bank with a modern edge
Houlihan Lokey is a leading global investment bank with expertise in mergers & acquisitions. Working with their existing logo we created a visual design system with a vast library of graphic motifs and applications. Clean, modern graphics pair nicely with images of their worldwide locations. The dynamic and flexible system works across all marketing touchpoints from the website to social media.
Shapes found inside the “trinity” globe were used to create flowing waves, currents, halftone patterns and geometric and dimensional motifs. By using the DNA from the logo itself, the visual identity feels like a cohesive system and creates an abstract depiction of intangible financial concepts.
Using Houlihan Lokey’s existing brand color palette, we extended it by adding tints of the primary colors. Seen in the various graphic motifs and gradients, it helps create a depth and sophistication to their otherwise corporate colors.
The visual system allows for endless ways of combining the design elements in unique ways so that any piece of corporate communication looks and feels like it comes from Houlihan Lokey.
LinkedIn is the primary social media platform Houlihan Lokey uses for posting news. We created a library of custom, branded posts for various things like deal announcements, market report downloads and new hires around the globe.
Nature photography of mountains, bridges, roads, oceans and rivers are a great way to illustrate the ideas of global market fluctuations and increasing wealth. It’s also a nice juxtaposition to the clean lines of data charts and M&A bank information.
Working with Houlihan Lokey’s in-house developers, we designed the website to combine the graphics and majestic imagery to present their detailed information and global rankings charts in a clean, concise way that’s easy to navigate.
Deliverables:
- Visual Design System
- Extended Color Palette
- Website Design
- Social Media Design
- Collateral Design
BLDG25 experience design
technology / brand identity / website
BLDG25 is where game design meets behavioral science to deliver tech solutions
BLDG25 combines a background in creative game design with deep roots in enterprise product management to solve tomorrow’s big business challenges through customized software. We designed the identity to reflect both behavioral science and technology, allowing the viewer to interpret it on their own terms. It’s a play on opposites: light and dark, science and art, data analytics and creativity, innovation and practicality.
On the surface, the mark is an abstract number 25. The use of positive/negative lines bisected down the middle represents the left/right brain. It’s also an eye representing vision, insight and intelligence. A logo stinger animation really brings this idea to life.
The use of mesh-like motifs is an homage to their gaming DNA, imagination and flexibility. Waves and spheres represent the transformational nature of their products, a paradigm shift that pulls the viewer into new and unexpected worlds.
Custom icons were designed to help describe intangible business concepts. Branded powerpoint templates were created using a vast library of icons, motifs and infographics for use by the BLDG25 team.
Deliverables:
- Brand Identity
- Brand Guidelines
- Visual System + Icons
- Web Design + Development
- Motion Graphics
- Collateral
A clean, responsive website describes the complexity of what BLDG25 does using immersive motion graphics, scroll effects and parallax infographics to draw the viewer in.
University of California IGCC
education / brand identity / website
IGCC conducts research on global social science conflicts and cooperation
University of California Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation–or UC IGCC–bridges the academic and policy worlds and conducts social science research on topics such as international security, geoeconomics, the future of democracy and the environment. They wanted to redesign and modernize their dated brand identity and website and separate them from the University of California’s brand look and feel.
Using the “rays” from inside the mark as a graphic motif to help depict the idea of “illumination” on to challenging topics. The motif becomes a positive “light” overlapping intense photography. Motifs can be used on any marketing materials from blog posts to presentation covers to social media.
A responsive WordPress website was built to present their vast archive of content in a new way that was easy to use. It needed to feel modern and feature related experts and content on each page.
Deliverables:
- Brand Identity
- Brand Styleguide
- Visual System
- Website Design
- Web Development
Demarest production
arts & media / brand identity / print
Demarest empowers great ideas in film and technology to deliver content
Demarest is a unique film and television production company that also invests in technologies that create and deliver premium content across all mediums. They wanted to remove the “films” from their name and redesign their identity to better reflect their innovative business model.
The mark is composed of bisected circles that echo the letter “D”, creating an innovative wave pattern that’s full of motion and energy reminiscent of light refracting on dark water.
The name Demarest means “of the swamp” in French. Images of water and nature combined with pattern motifs evoke a mysterious place where ideas are born. Moody images help bring a responsive WordPress site to life.
Deliverables:
- Brand Identity
- Brand Styleguide
- Website Design
- Business Cards
- Content Creation
We designed dark and mysterious business cards for the team. Cards are printed using duplexed French Muscletone stock with black foil embossed on the front and silkscreened pale gray ink on the back.
Qualcomm Institute
technology / brand refresh / website
Qualcomm Institute jumpstarts innovation with technology and research
The Qualcomm Institute (QI) is a nonprofit research organization bringing together teams from all different cutting-edge technologies at UC San Diego. Founded in 2000, QI wanted to keep their existing mark, but refresh the visual identity and color palette to feel separate from the University of California’s yellow and blue branding. We started with an updated logo lock-up that feels cleaner, more organized-looking and easier to read.
A visual system of graphic motifs was created using the circle and wave from the QI mark as the main geometry. Various color combinations create hero banners for the website and blog.
Working with the existing UC San Diego brand colors, we focused on the turquoise, stone and cool gray and added teal for a monochromatic look. The feeling is both confident and contemporary.
After an extensive site audit and wireframing phase, we completely redesigned their existing website. The result is well organized, easy to navigate and incorporates the new color palette.
Deliverables:
- Brand Refresh
- Visual System
- Web Design
- Web Development
- Content Creation
Paige Parenti college coach
service / brand identity / website
Paige is a college admissions coach with a mission to empower every student
Paige helps every student find the right college for them, guides them through the admissions process, and sets them up for success. To appeal to Gen Z, and their parents, the company name was updated and the brand redesign focuses on the personal attention she gives to every student. The result is a clean and inviting look and feel using warm, soothing colors
The elegant P monogram is inspired by the Golden Spiral, a sacred geometric symbol that represents higher learning and infinite possibilities. A set of thin line icons compliment the thin lines in the logo.
A customized website tells the story of Paige, her services and student stories to describe real-world results. The design is light and airy with easy bites of information and imagery, plus a student scheduling calendar and payment pathway.
Deliverables:
- Brand Identity
- Visual System
- Web Design
- Content Creation
- Digital Collateral
- Print Design
Hughes Estate Sales
services / brand identity / website / print collateral / signage
Hughes is the premier estate sales and antique auction resource in SoCal
Since 1978, Hughes has been the premier estate sale resource in the southern California region. They wanted to modernize their brand identity and create a responsive e-commerce site that expands their business model to include online sales and auctions. The logotype combines a contemporary yet classic look that echoes their past and moves them into the future.
From brochures, stationery, signage, boxes and uniforms, we crafted an end-to-end branding solution that carries Hughes into the next generation. An ownable green evokes stability and trust and is easily recognizable as Hughes.
Appealing to both buyers and sellers, we built a responsive site is part slick brochure, part e-commerce. Using their library of captivating images of furniture, antiques and ephemera, the user becomes immersed in shopping and finding treasures.
Vintage-style typography is used to create various indoor and outdoor signage for both the Altadena and Downtown LA Showrooms. Discount graphics are used in sale emails to their vast list of customers.
Deliverables:
- Brand Identity
- Brand Guidelines
- Website Design
- Web Development
- Print Collateral Design
- Signage
Caprock wealth management
finance / brand identity / website
Caprock is a family office company rethinking wealth and impact investing
Caprock is a leader in managing family wealth with their personalized, hands-on approach. Pioneers in the impact investing space, they wanted to modernize their identity and create a cohesive visual system. To revitalize this decade-old brand, we started with a monogram “C” that’s always moving forward and speaks to financial growth and flexibility.
We kept their existing Navy and added copper to the color palette. Everything is printed on Colorplan patriot blue card stock, stamped with copper metallic foil that matches the color of shiny, new pennies. The arrows from the wordmark are used to create a visual system of forward-thinking patterns, motifs and icons.
A Brand Styleguide keeps the identity cohesive by outlining rules for the logo, typography, color palette and graphic motifs.
A customized, responsive website tells the story of Caprock using layered parallax graphics, immersive imagery and smart copy that gives a modern take on financial services.
Deliverables:
- Brand Identity
- Brand Guidelines
- Visual System
- Website Design
- Print Collateral
- Promotional Items
Bluegiant productions
media / brand identity / web / print
Bluegiant productions gets a stellar and polished Mid-century modern rebrand
As one of many LA-based film production companies, Bluegiant wanted to stand out and show their stylish and creative side. The proposed identity evokes a Mid-century modern style with geometric shapes harnessing a “blue giant” star. The look and feel combines black, dark colors and cyan with outer space, astronauts and vintage spaceship imagery that evokes style and charm.
Deliverables:
- Brand Identity
- Visual System
- Print Collateral Design
- Web Design
- Web Development
- Content Creation
A set of 12 patterns made out of circles and triangles taken from the main mark were printed on Luxe MOO business cards for the entire team. Letting clients choose their own design becomes a fun conversation starter.
Bluegiant ran with our creative direction idea for a team photoshoot by wearing vintage astronaut suits to show everyone’s personality. Zoom out and zoom in shots were used for the people page on the website.
A brochure site showcases Bluegiant’s work with fun animations, edgy copy, a video reel and space-related imagery throughout.
J+R Group
service / brand identity / website / print
J+R Group sparks innovation through their commercial and residential properties
J+R Group cultivates commercial and residential properties across the Pacific Northwest and Southern California, offering sustainable and open design that helps shape their tenants’ creativity and vision. We designed their brand to be bold, energetic and polished like their philosophy. The geometric J and R letterforms create a mark that’s always moving forward and reflects their contemporary architecture style. Moss signage using the mark creates a branded environment in their own offices.
Corporate stationery was printed on antique gray paper using gray Pantone inks. A tone-on-tone repeating pattern on the cards creates a feeling of building which gives a striking first impression.
A dynamic website tells the story of each property through parallax animations, professional photography, renderings, property design details and data graphs.
A Brand Styleguide outlines rules for the identity system including logo lock-ups, color formulas, typography, photography and graphic motifs. The guide is an important tool in creating brand cohesion.
Deliverables:
- Brand Identity
- Brand Guidelines
- Corporate Stationery
- Website Design
- Web Development
- Copywriting
