Placemade
Building brands.
OBJECTIVEPartner with placemakers to create real estate brands that resonate and endure.
OVERVIEWFor over a decade, my team at Mode has worked with commercial real estate groups to develop multifamily, mixed-use, and hospitality brands.
The business grew to the extent that we created a specialized division dedicated to it: Placemade by Mode.
Each project is an exercise in holistic brand building, including strategy, verbal and visual identity, standards, and a cross-section of digital, print, and environmental touch points designed for awareness and lease-up. Below are a few of my favorite projects.
SERVICESBrand Strategy
Verbal Identity
Visual Identity
Guidelines & Standards
Leasing Kits & Collateral
Signage & Wayfinding
Murals & Graphic Walls
In a blossoming and beautifully diverse neighborhood, Trella is built on the site of a landmark Art Deco hotel that’s rich with cultural history.
The brand positioning, “Made of many stories,” celebrates the multifaceted nature of people and the diversity of the mixed-income property. Residents, like all people, are not defined by a single story. Together, we’re shaped by our collective stories.
The visual language blends an Art Deco style with a floral motif inspired by the name, which is rooted in the concept of a trellis. Hence, good things flourish at Trella, where a luxurious living experience is made accessible.
Anthem is a buzzy, bustling neighborhood district on the happening side of town, where friends roam and gather.
The district transforms a row of industrial buildings into a lively gathering place for Charlotte’s retro contemporary culture. It’s a fun, walkable spot full of surprises.
Drawn from the site’s auto roots, the brand is full of character – authentic, illustrative, and the spark of good times. “For the people” is an anthemic rallying cry, setting the tone and the stage for the moments to come.
The Prospect is a multifamily property in a historic Gold District, built on the excitement and energy of a time when anything was possible.
The neighborhood's story dates back to the Carolina gold rush of the early 19th century, when there were over 700 gold mines in the region. “Upscale/Unexpected” taps into this legacy and positions the property as a place where adventure and fortune await the bold.
Visually, the brand conveys an air of mystery and intrigue through illustrative symbolism and evocative photography. The iconic rabbit, ever a symbol of luck, embodies a brand story balancing swank and soul.
