Ballard is one of Seattle’s most iconic neighborhoods (and we’re not just saying that because we’re headquartered here) for many reasons. Some of them are tangible: historic buildings, must-try restaurants, cute coffee shops, murals around every corner. But there’s something else going on here—a thread that stitches all those things together and makes Ballard’s energy feel different.

So, when real estate developer Holland Partner Group came to us for help naming and branding a new multi-story residence on one of Ballard’s most historic corners, the challenge was obvious: How do we establish a modern building as part of a community that so strongly values its history? Our strategy was to find the common thread that runs through Ballard’s past and present.

We started by going back to the beginning. Digging through archives, we learned that Ballard was a fiercely independent fishing village up until 1907, when it was forced to annex to the City of Seattle.

We designed a series of branded stamps and seals inspired by the bronze plaques on Ballard’s historic buildings.