Blogs
Branding Wayfinding

What is Placemaking?

What makes a place great? It’s the question that keeps us up at night. When you think of your favorite places – your childhood home, the coffee shop up the street, a park across town, a city on another continent, etc. – do you know what makes them so special? ...
April 03, 2018 Brand Experience, Placemaking
Position Papers
Branding Communities Public Venues

Making Sense of Civic Brands

We believe so strongly in the power of brand that our founder Rachel Downey created another consultancy, PlaceHolder, built on the belief that purpose and brand should always come first when you are thinking about, planning or actively doing place-based design....
April 3, 2018 Brand Champions, Brand Purpose, Brand Strategy, Civic Branding
Position Papers
Communities Institutions Public Venues Retail Wayfinding

Wayfinding Start Here

Where Does One Begin to Develop a Wayfinding Program?
A lot of our projects begin with a call from a future client with a statement of “We need a wayfinding program.” After a conversation addressing the issues they’ve experienced to bring them to this conclusion, we get to the reasonable questions...
March 10, 2017 Sign System, Wayfinding Assessment, Wayfinding Audit
Blogs
Communities Wayfinding

Urban Parks Adopt Wayfinding

via NRPA.org
Wayfinding is trending in urban parks as cities compete for tourist dollars, new businesses and city-dwelling residents. It’s a practical tool for navigation, but wayfinding is also used to help create a positive experience...
March 9, 2018 Planning, Sign System
Position Papers
Branding Marketing Wayfinding

10 Tips To Keep Your Project On Time And On Budget

Everyone has had a project that did not go as planned. Things happen and projects that take two months creep into six. Budgets go beyond scope and clients wonder, “Why is this project costing more than we anticipated...
February 5, 2018 Budgets, Project Management, Project Timeline
News
Communities Wayfinding

Guide Studio Works with City of North Olmsted on Historic District Signage

via Cleveland.com
Guide Studio was hired by the city to develop a unique sign system for the North Olmsted's historic district that emphasizes their historic homes along Butternut Ridge Road and helps recognize and preserve the architectural heritage...
March 9, 2018 Historic Preservation Plan, North Olmsted, Sign System
Blogs
Branding Marketing

These three steps can keep your business on the right path

via Smart Business
Guide Studio Founder and Owner, Rachel Downey, shares the secret sauce recipe for building a healthy business and a productive team, published in the November issue of Smart Business...
February 27, 2018 Business Advice, Leadership, Vision

A Free Guide to Building Your Brand Champion Dream Team

Tips and templates for building your team from scratch.

Download

Position Papers
Communities Institutions Public Venues Retail Wayfinding

Follow the Sign Standards

The Whys and Hows of Sign Standards and Guidelines
Developing sign standards are important for creating consistent and smart sign programs that uphold the design integrity of a space or place. They can communicate the aesthetic requirements that allow the program to live in harmony with a space’s interior or exterior design; they can provide guidance in how information needs to be presented to make a place highly usable...
February 5, 2018 Sign Standards, Sign Systems
News
Branding Communities Marketing

University Heights hires firm to give it a brand

via Cleveland.com
We are truly excited to work with University Heights on refreshing their brand! Several of us at Guide Studio have lived in or near University Heights for many years and have a special appreciation for the city and what it represents...
February 28, 2018 Brand Champions, Brand Identity, Brand Strategy, Civic Branding
Blogs
Communities Institutions Wayfinding

Interpretive Storytelling

Q&A with Certified Interpretive Planners Nancy Desmond and John Veverka
An Interpretive Program, as it relates to environmental graphic design, is a system of signs, graphics and other visual elements that share short stories reflecting on the history, people, culture, ecology and architecture of a place...
January 4, 2018 Interpretive Signage, Pedestrian Signage, Storytelling
Position Papers
Communities Wayfinding

Pathways for Wayfinding Support

What you can do solo vs. when to bring in a consultant
Successful communities invest significant time and resources in creating well-designed, cohesive wayfinding programs to support enjoyable experiences. However, knowing everything from where to begin, what you can accomplish on your own and when to bring in some outside help can make anyone feel…well…lost...
January 8, 2018 Civic Branding, Sign System, Wayfinding Analysis
Webinars
Communities Institutions Public Venues Wayfinding

Follow the Sign Standards

Your guide to creating a consistent cohesive visitor experience
If you manage, plan or design for large, complex, campuses such as a College or University, Hospital, or Corporate Office Park or a system of public places such as a Parks or Trails — this webinar is for you...
January 10, 2018 Sign Standards, Sign System
Position Papers
Branding Communities Institutions Public Venues Retail

What is a Brand Strategy, anyway?

Dropping the jargon for an honest look at what it is and how to use it.
At the risk of sounding cliché, I have often looked in my closet and thought, “I have nothing to wear.” Nothing fits or it’s just not “me” anymore – even my once-favorite sweater isn’t cutting it. I don’t think I’m alone in this feeling (at least I hope not, since I’ve put myself out there!). But the same can be said for a brand identity. Sometimes it’s just not working like it once did...
December 4, 2017 Brand Experience, Brand Identity, Brand Strategy, Civic Branding

Planning a Brand Launch?

A well-documented plan will give your new brand the attention it really deserves.

Download