● Case Studies

Rocky’s Bar

Rocky’s brand identity embraces a tropical & retro motel esthetic with a custom drawn logo type and a suite of funky cats — drawing inspiration from the cat who first lived in the alley: Rocky.

The new tropical oasis on South Congress in Austin Texas was an unused space in between Joann’s Fine Foods and The Austin Motel. The ask was to transform the alley into an unforgettable moment that could stand apart from The Austin Motel while still nodding to the existing brand system and exterior style. The bar features tropical cocktails, shuffle boards, and a fresh space for all kinds of folks to gather in the shade of the historic Austin Motel.

Credits

Client

Bunkhouse Hotels, Hyatt Lifestyle Group

Hotel Saint Augustine

At the center of the Montrose district sits Hotel Saint Augustine, located across from the Menil Collection campus. It is home to 71 hotel rooms and suites, a restaurant, a small event space, an intimate lobby bar and a cloistered circular courtyard pool.

The property and brand identity takes inspiration from the spirit of the museum collection and of Houston itself — a duality of old world and new, a rich diversity and a forward-thinking sensibility.

Credits

CLIENT

Bunkhouse Hotels, Hyatt Lifestyle Brand

Hotel Daphne

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Opening Winter 2025
More to come

Deriving inspiration in the Grecian myth river god Peneus’ daughter, who saved herself from the unwanted advances of Apollo by transforming into a laurel tree. The dichotomy of desire and danger calls to the aesthetic interplays within the design.

Credits

CLIENT

Bunkhouse Hotels, Hyatt Lifestyle Group

Latent

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Visit Site

Designed at Span

Latent Design is a progressive architecture firm practicing at the intersection of design and community development. They provide innovative design solutions often in resource and budget-limited environments. Their collaborations range from small-scale tactical interventions to giant-scale neighborhood master plans that bring about social, economic, and environmental impact. Latent Design approached Span with a challenge — design a website that visually expresses this wide range while providing a user experience that feels like discovery and delight.

To bring their project range to life, Span created a bespoke webGL environment that animates based on the user’s activity. The animation speaks to ideas of changing conditions and illustrates their project range while allowing users to immerse themselves into each project.

Credits

Nick Adam | Design Direction
Avery Branen | Design
Bryant Smith | Web Development

CLIENT

Latent Design

SERVICES

Website Design

Slow & Low

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Designed at Span

Slow & Low co-founders and co-curators Pacheco and Kepha brought Span in to build upon their history and vision by designing the event’s visual identity, promotion materials, and supergraphic environmental signage. More than a car show, Slow & Low is a celebration of identity grounded in self-expression, social change, master craftsmanship, and machinery. The opportunity to take over Chicago’s largest tourist destination came with the responsibility of placemaking. Together, we did so by celebrating the individuals of a community that mainstream cultures often overlook.

The design system embraces an omnipresence of arches, marigolds, and praying hands — religious iconography important to Pacheco and Kepha given their prominence throughout Chicano and lowrider culture symbolizing a celebration of faith, life, and death. The visual identity comes to life with purpose by featuring Slow & Low’s world-renowned and emerging photographers. The photography gave the design system power, by going beyond showing the stunning, lowrider cars and spotlighting the individuals in Chicago’s lowrider community.

Credits

CLIENT

Slow & Low: Chicago Lowrider Festival
Navy Pier

AWARDS

STA 100

Supera

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Visit the Site
Designed at Span

Span worked with Supera to establish a new brand strategy that revolved around the theme "Lead from the Heart." The essence of the brand is to create meaningful moments of connection that say we appreciate you, we care about you. The new brand strategy highlights Supera's commitment to doing right daily by their residents, employees, partners, and communities, nurturing relationships with honesty, fairness, respect, creativity, and a generosity of spirit.

Supera Asset Management is a third-generation, family-owned real estate and investment company that owns and manages vintage apartments in Chicago's most desirable neighborhoods. The company's focus is on nurturing relationships with honesty, fairness, respect, creativity, and a generosity of spirit. Supera also values uplifting communities with creative experiences and supports local Chicago arts. The company's giving meaningfully impacts homelessness, hunger, social services, and social-justice initiatives.

Credits

CLIENT

Supera

Inflorescence

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Designed at Span

Inflorescence is a floral company dedicated to accessible beauty. Span collaborated closely with Inflorescence founder and florist Anjelica Hennessey, who works with sustainable flowers sold at fair prices to make floral services more accessible to a wider demographic.

The brand identity embraces a hippie-era aesthetic to give it a funky, old-school personality that feels playful and honest. The illustration style was inspired by the printing traditions of woodblock and silkscreen to create a unique style that feels gentle and natural. The Inflorescence wordmark features inky, thorny letterforms that can stack, rotate, and intertwine with the illustrations to create bouquet-like arrangements that celebrate simple acts of beauty. This simple set of parts provides a system that can be easily and affordably brought into the world.

Credits

Nick Adam | Design Direction, Design
Avery Branen | Design, Illustration

CLIENT

Inflorescence

Awards

AIGA 365

Colt

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Coming Soon

Smoked olive oil and honey. Small batch, single origin, and made with care. An identity focused on craftsmanship, kitchen culture, flavor, and joy.

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Client

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CLIENT

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CLIENT

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CLIENT

SERVICES

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CLIENT

AWARDS

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CLIENT

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CLIENT

Awards

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CLIENT

Avery Branen — Design

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